By: MOHAMED M. SESAY
Members of Parliament of the All People’s Congress Party have supported the postponement of all local council elections to 2023. The endorsement of the local council elections came to effect after the House of Parliament debated and passed into law the Local Government (Amendment) Act, 2022″.
The Bill seeks to amend the Local Government Act 2004; to extend the period for local council elections from four years to five years, to extend the tenure of the chairperson and councilors from four years to five years to reflect the tenure of other elective public officers; to reduce the budget costs and to provide for other related matters.
Presenting the Bill prior to ratification, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Dr. Tamba Lamina said the Local Government Amendment Act 2022, would make local councils’ elections permanent and to be conducted in line with the general elections every five years. He highlighted the challenges presently involved in conducting Local council elections.
In his contribution to the debate, Leader of C4C Hon. Emerson Saa Lamina said the bill before the House is appropriate and decried the past government and the Minister that was in charged, Mayar KaiKai for failing to address the issues including slating an appropriate date for Local Council Election in line with the general election. He said it is appropriate for the postponement of the Local Councils Election to five years and said that it costs US $ 24 Million to conduct Local Government Elections by the National Electoral Commission
Hon. Daniel Koroma said the bill before the House is simple and commendable and noted that, the amendment bill would seek local Council’s election to be conducted in every five year instead of four year. “We are in support of the bill in moving the election to five years instead of four years”, he affirmed.
Concluding the debate, Leader of Government Business Hon. Mathew Sahr Nyuma commended MPs for their contributions and expressed that Parliament has taken the right step in the right direction. He commended the Minister for strengthening democracy in asking Parliament to defer the Local Councils Elections to five years.