By: Mohamed M. Sesay
At the maiden stock taking meeting for Local Councils held at the Freetown City Multi-Purpose Building, the Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh who doubles as the Chairman for the Inter- Ministerial Committee (IMC), has on the 6th of July 2023, made a clarion call on the Locals Councils across the country to take ownership of President Julius Maada Bio’s Big Five Manifesto.
The vice president particularly singled out the feed Sierra Leone initiative, Human Capital Development, 500,000 jobs creation among others.
In his keynote address, the Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh said the meeting was an opportunity which they have to use as a platform to actualize the implementation of President Julius Maada Bio`s Big Five Manifesto. He said they are counting on the ideas of the heads of local Councils in actualizing and improving on local governance. He said over the years, they have experienced weak local Councils policies which they have to address. He recalled that the Bio led government in the last five years, made tremendous effort to addressing most of the challenges that hinder the operations of local Councils.
Vice President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, added that the Human Capital Development of President Bio placed huge opportunities to locals Councils in terms of proving additional classroom, improve foundational learning centers across the country, Healthcare delivery with the recruitment of 6000 Healthcare workers of which the local Councils played key role.
He said in the next five years, President Bio led Government would prioritize the big fives as indicated in the SLPP 2023 Manifesto.
He said they ate going to be very innovative in proving the necessary support to local Councils towards agricultural activities. He added that the 2023 Manifesto also promises to provide 500,000 jobs which would reflect across the country. He said the recent launched of the industrial zone is a potential means to support the 500,000 job creation opportunities for citizens.
He added that President Bio made it very clear to revamp the public sector management of which the Councils are key players. He also said President Bio is going to deepen the human capital development of which the involvement of the local Councils couldn’t be over emphasized.
“Ladies and gentlemen, as I conclude, this session is organized to look for ideas as to how we can improve on the gains made in the last five years. So you are all invited here today for a frantic discussion as to what are the real issues affecting development in the Councils. We don’t want the Councils to lack behind in terms of implementing the big fives Manifesto”, he said.
In his welcoming address, the Minister of Local Government and Community Affairs Tampa Lamina said sometimes last year, the Ministry requested head of local Councils to provide leadership in the local Councils. He said the election has gone by and it is now time to actualize that laudable initiative in terms of improvement the local government across the country. He formally used the opportunity to congratulate the Vice President who doubles as the chairman of the inter-Ministerial Committee on Local Councils. He added that the SLPP 2023 Manifesto agenda focuses on key issues which the local government has to pay attention to. He continued that among those key indicators are the Feed Sierra Leone, Human Capital Development among others. He said the Fifth parliament legislated the new Local Government Act which would now help improve the operation of local government across the county
Tampa Lamina continued that sometimes last year the Ministry paid a visit to all local Councils encouraging them to provide leadership which aimed at ameliorating the local Councils. He called for key attention to be paid on the Human capital development and the Feed Sierra Leone as indicated in the 2023 SLPP Manifesto. He said two months ago, government unveiled the new industrial zone which would also help support the 500,000 job creation as promised in the 2023 Manifesto. He assured government commitment to promote the power of effective functioning of local government is inedible. He expressed thanks and appreciation to the Vice president for his leadership in ensuring the local governments are supported to the highest magnitude.
Minister of State in the Western Region Nabella Tunis, expressed her appreciation to be part of the meeting and also appreciated the Local Councils for working in line with government policies in promoting local government. She extended government willingness to be working with local Councils in thick and thin. She said they are committed to promoting support in order to see that development is visible to every corner across the local Councils in the country. She said participation and delivery are key issues that local Councils have to embrace in order to meet the Feed Sierra Leone initiative and the human capital development as indicated in the 2023 Manifesto.
The Minister of Planning and Economic Development Dr. Francis Kaikai expressed thanks to the Chief Administrators for their tremendous leadership in terms of providing development to their respective Councils. He said the meeting is very important especially when aimed at stock taking for local Councils. He added that the stock taking initiative is embedded in the 2023 Manifesto with specific focus to Feed Sierra Leone and the human capital development.
He said they have also formed a committee at district level in order to actualize President Bio’s Big Fives in the 2023 Manifesto. He called on all the local Councils to play their role in actualizing the Big fives initiative.
