By: Problyn J Alpha
News Review Team which is a good governance radio talk show programme with civil society activists as guests on radio New Song fm 91.38 in kono District have maintained that the monthly payment of salaries of paramount chiefs will enhance decentralisation and good governance processes in the country. The civil society guests on the programme were: Sahr O Fallah, Alex Christian Mani and Sahr James. The programme was moderated or presented by the station manager Problyn J. Alpha of the aforementioned radio station.
According to guests of the News Review programme, the laudable initiative by the local government and community Affairs ministry for the said payment of salaries has added more respect to the custodians of the respective chiefdoms across the country.
Paramount chiefs prior to now because of their abounding commitments to taking care of their family members have not been staying in their respective chiefdoms but because of the said monthly payment of salaries, paramount chiefs will now stay or reside with their people thereby articulating government policies for the enhancement of local governance and decentralization. The guests further pointed out that the monthly payment of salaries of paramount chiefs is very important as it will also address the allegation of some paramount chiefs levying heavy fines on their people thereby urging them to relocate or banish themselves which is against the national cohesion clarion call and the local court Act of 2007,that’s no local chief or paramount chiefs should levy fines more than fifty thousand old Leones except the local court chairmen.
While commending the minister of local government and community Affairs Ambassador Tamba Lamina for such laudable initiative the civil society guests on the News Review programme pleaded with the minister to see reasons to be paying monthly salaries of chiefdom police officers including other chiefdom functionaries as they are also very key to the enhancement of local governance and decentralization processes in the country. However, they told the minister to cross check the idea of paying increased allowances to councilors because some are teachers thus it’s forbidden to receive payment of salaries twice.
