By: Aminata Sesay
Parliament on Tuesday debated the Military Veterans Agency Act, 2026, and the Explosives Regulation Bill, with Members of Parliament calling for improved welfare protection for retired military personnel and stronger safeguards governing the storage, transportation and commercial use of explosives.
While lawmakers expressed broad support for the objectives of both bills, they raised concerns about institutional arrangements, funding, licensing procedures, judicial oversight and the protection of legitimate businesses. They called for further examination of key provisions at the Committee Stage to ensure that the proposed laws are effective, practical and responsive to national needs.
Moving the second reading of the Military Veterans Agency Act, Deputy Minister of Defence, Colonel (Rtd.) Muana Brima Massaquoi, described the proposed legislation as a national obligation to recognize and support men and women who had served in the country’s armed forces.
He said many former military personnel faced difficult transitions into civilian life after years of service, often without adequate institutional support or a legally guaranteed welfare system.
The bill seeks to establish a dedicated Department of Military Veterans within the Ministry of Defence, alongside a Military Veterans Advisory Council and an independent Appeals Board.
It also provides for structured support in healthcare, disability compensation, mental health services, skills development and burial assistance, as well as the creation of a centralized database of military veterans.
Col. (Rtd.) Massaquoi said the legislation would establish a framework for recognizing veterans’ contributions and ensuring that their welfare remained a responsibility of the state.
The Chairman of the Committee on Defence, Hon. Rogers, described the bill as progressive and non-controversial, urging MPs across party lines to support its passage.
He explained that the proposed legislation was specifically intended for individuals who had honourably served in the country’s armed forces and should not be confused with other veterans’ associations.
Supporting the bill, Hon. Catherine Zainab Tarawallie highlighted the difficult conditions faced by retired military personnel, including former senior officers who, she said, were struggling to survive on inadequate pensions.
She described the legislation as urgent and called for its expeditious consideration, particularly ahead of the national budget, to enable the proposed institutional arrangements to become operational.
However, she called for further clarification of provisions relating to appointments, eligibility and dependants, particularly Clauses 11, 15 and 16. She also urged the Committee to examine the responsibilities and appointment procedures for the proposed Director-General.
Hon. Mahawa Sia Tommy, MP for Kono District, also called for stronger state support for former military personnel, recalling the sacrifices made by soldiers during the country’s civil war.
She said many veterans continued to experience hardship more than two decades after the conflict, despite the risks they had taken to defend the country.
Hon. Tommy stressed that disability compensation and other welfare benefits should be treated as obligations of the state rather than acts of charity.
She further underscored the importance of rehabilitation, healthcare, education and housing support, noting that adequate funding would be essential to the successful implementation of the proposed agency.
She also called for greater recognition and representation of female military veterans.
The debate on the Explosives Regulation Bill centred on balancing national security with the protection of legitimate commercial activities, particularly in the mining, quarrying and construction sectors.
Hon. Abdul Kargbo described the regulation of explosives as critical to national security, warning that improper storage, transportation and handling could have devastating consequences.
He called for a specialized regulatory institution with the technical capacity to monitor explosives from importation to their final use, maintain accurate records and account for any missing quantities.
He also advocated strict controls over the cross-border movement of explosives and regular reporting to Parliament on their importation, storage and use.
However, Hon. Kargbo cautioned against provisions that could impose unnecessary restrictions on legitimate businesses.
Referring to Clause 32(1)(c)(5), he questioned provisions that appeared to limit the importation and use of explosives to defence and security purposes, potentially excluding legitimate commercial operators in the mining, quarrying and other sectors.
He urged Parliament to ensure that businesses requiring explosives for lawful operations could access them under strict regulatory conditions, including mandatory professional training for handlers.
Hon. Kargbo also questioned provisions relating to the entry, seizure and confiscation of explosives under Clause 22, arguing that enforcement powers should be subject to appropriate judicial safeguards.
On Clause 41, he called for clarity regarding the revocation of existing licences, warning that the absence of clear transitional and savings provisions could create uncertainty for businesses holding valid licences or with pending applications.
He further proposed the inclusion of representatives from the mining, quarrying and fishing sectors in the proposed regulatory body’s structure to strengthen stakeholder participation and ensure that the interests of legitimate users were considered.
Contributing to the debate, Hon. Bashiru Silikie called for clearer definitions of the respective responsibilities of the proposed Board and Chief Inspector to prevent institutional confusion during implementation.
He emphasised the importance of involving mining companies and other legitimate users in the regulatory process, noting that effective enforcement would depend on cooperation between the regulator and the industries affected by the legislation.
Hon. Silikie also raised concerns about the financing of the proposed regulatory institution, urging Parliament to ensure that adequate resources were allocated for inspections, enforcement and professional training.
He maintained that the legislation should establish a regulatory framework capable of protecting public safety without undermining legitimate economic activities.
Following the debate, the Explosives Regulation Bill was committed to the Legislative Committee for further scrutiny.
The concerns raised by MPs on both bills are expected to inform the Committee’s examination of their provisions before they proceed to subsequent stages of parliamentary consideration.