By:Mohamed M. Sesay
The leadership of Parliament across all the political Parties have expressed their dissatisfaction over the emerging Social Media Public outcry directed at Members of Parliament with regards to a Private Member Bill which aimed to address the welfare of Members of Parliament.
The Leader of Government Business Hon. Matthew S. Nyuma stated that they have had series of bashing from the public about the Private Member Bill concerning the welfare of Members of Parliament. He added that citizens of Sierra Leone don’t want to see their elected Members of Parliament in a good status. He said their very constituents demand tremendous assistant but still cry Members of Parliament down especially when it comes to the Private Member Bill geared to address the welfare of Members of Parliament.
Hon. Nyuma assured that they cannot bastardize the constitution but will also protect their rights through the provisions in the constitution. He referenced section 74 subsection 4 of the 1991 constitution Act No.6, which provides that Members of Parliament shall be entitled to salaries, allowances and gratuities and any other benefit as may be prescribed by Parliament. He emphatically stated that the aforesaid provision is their constitutional right but they will not abuse it. He also referenced Standing Orders 61 which also justifies a Member of Parliament to champion a Private Member Bill.
Hon. Nyuma also reproofs the pulling down syndrome of Members of Parliament by the public adding that, people just take issues to social media blasting parliament without even knowing the nitty-gritty of the issue. He furthered that when they wants to address their welfare issue, they will not do it secret as they will table it, debate it and pass into law. He also assured that they are also going to debate the Wage Bill in ensuring that there is harmonization in the Wage Bill.
“We are contractors, we are religious people for naming ceremonies and funerals, we take people to hospitals, and so many things which make us jack of all trade but masters of none because no resources are given to us to address such anticipated demands from our constituents. Mr. Speaker Honorable colleagues, I stand with great concerns that the innuendos and public blasting against Members of Parliament is unjustifiable”, he said.
On his part, the Acting Leader of the Opposition Hon. Ibrahim Ben Kargbo also gave credence to all what the Leader of Government Business said relating to the Welfare of Members of Parliament. He added that they are not going to apologize to anybody for the concern made by Members of Parliament relating to the Private Member Bill.
Hon. Kargbo also stated that they are not going to allow any set of people to blackmail them as all the posts on social media relating to the welfare of Members of Parliament is tantamount to blackmail.
The Leader of the National Ground Coalition Hon. Kandeh Yumkella also applauded the Leader of Government Business for eloquently addressing the social media bashing on Members of Parliament regarding their welfare. He however noted that controversies are sometimes anticipated and therefore, advised Hon. Nyuma not to run away from those controversies. He assured the leader of Government Business that he is fully in support of an improved welfare of Members of Parliament. He concluded by stated the need for timely salary harmonization across every sector.
The Speaker of the Fifth Session of the Fifth Parliament Hon. Dr. Abass Bundu, also expressed his dismay that he could not believe that the entire country will go against Members of Parliament pushing for an improved welfare.
He furthered that people premised their argument for not giving a nod for an improved welfare of Members of Parliament due to the popular notion that Sierra Leone is Poor.
Dr. Bundu however, acknowledged that Sierra Leone is indeed poor but certainly not the poorest country in Africa.
He intimated that what is contained in the constitutional provision referenced by the Leader of Government Business above is not new in other jurisdiction such as Uganda, Kenya Ghana and Liberia.
He equally asserted that the above mentioned countries have long utilized their own constitutional provisions for a better welfare of Members of Parliament.
