The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Tamba Lamina has on Thursday 26th November 2020 disclosed that natives of Sierra Leone who wish to become Councilors should present themselves as independent candidates and be nonpartisan. He made this disclosure at the conference hall of the Ministry of Information and Communications during the usual government press briefing at Youyi Building in Freetown.
The Minister opined that party colours have over the years forestalled national development, adding that the four year period of local council election would be changed to five, just as the presidential term of office. The aforementioned he said is captured in the new National Decentralisation Policy that has gotten Cabinet approval and is to be sent to Parliament not too long from now.
He furthered that the said decentralisation policy proposed that the required academic qualification to be eligible to run for the office of Councilor be the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
Additionally, it also proposed that those running for the office of Mayor should hold a university degree.
He added that all chairpersons are now required to choose a running mate during elections, adding that the above criteria are meant to strengthen capacity at local councils. Minister Lamina disclosed that the new policy proposed a new fine of Le5 million, up from Le500,000, for those who fail to comply with the council’s bylaws.
He said his ministry is on the verge of conducting chieftaincy elections for the 149 chiefdoms, where there are 60 vacancies. “We did not conduct elections because of the coronavirus pandemic, but will be doing so soon,” he revealed.
He added that the chieftaincy election will be held in tranches, the first region will be the north, followed by the northwest and south. He went on to state that sector and permanent staff at councils would start receiving all gratuities, are assured of performance appraisals, among others.
The Minister noted that the old decentralisation policy was enacted in 2010 after it was promulgated in 2004. SKS/27/11/2020
By Sulaiman Karim Sesay