By Saio Marrah
Following several calls by the Leader of the main opposition party in Parliament, Chernor Maju Bah, for timely distribution of bills to members of parliament, the European Union (EU) Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Manuel Muller, has said the EU will support the parliament and the government printing house to facilitate timely availability of bills to MPs and the public.
He made this promise at a pre-legislative hearing on the Local Government Act of 2021 bill at the house of parliament on Monday 4th July 2022.
The EU Ambassador also told the leadership of parliament that an increasing digitalization of information and making them available online will enable the country’s media and youths to participate in committees’ critical review of bills and share their comments with parliament.
Muller noted that in most jurisdictions, the law-making processes of Parliament are the most keenly followed by citizens and that the evidence in Sierra Leone is no exception.
While describing the pre-legislative hearing by the house as a powerful and credible engagement of citizens in the country’s parliamentary democracy, he applauded the leadership of parliament and the various committees for their dedication and transparency in engaging diverse stakeholders.
He described the "all-inclusive pre-legislative hearing of MPs" as a regional best practice that allows all parliamentarians to participate in a committee's hearing with Ministries before the House commits to a bill amendment in plenary.
He added that it is a best practice because it demonstrates Parliament's willingness and commitment to be held accountable by citizens on how it performs its functions and that it is enabling for parliamentary democracy for citizens to have information on Bills before it is approved by parliament.
While describing the amendment of the bill as an achievement of local communities' reform goals, he said “it is anticipated that the new law would equip and empower Local Councils and community leaders to carry out their responsibilities in a more effective and coordinated manner.”
The Minister of Local Government, Ambassador Tamba Lamina, said among other things, that the 2004 Local Government Act was rushed so that it could trigger the process of Decentralization. As a result, the Policy which was supposed to inform the Act came six years after the promulgation of the Local Government Bill of 2004. He said the decentralization Policy of 2010 created so much inconsistency in the 2004 bill and that there was growing concern from development partners and other bodies to have the two documents reviewed.
He said the needs for inclusive citizens’ participation in service delivery, transparency, and accountability and the idea of a bottom-top approach to nation-building are among the reasons for its amendment.
Tamba Lamina said provisions in the bill will show the values of citizens' participation in decision-making and management of activities, which contribute to the improvement of citizens' livelihoods. “It will ensure that appropriate space for citizens to participate in decisions, related to their lives at the local level and in the management of basic services, is a very important component of democracy,” he said.
He noted that the bill will ensure that community participation makes local government more transparent to the citizens so that they count more on the government to create real opportunities for a more Sustainable involvement in the improvement of their living conditions.
According to him, the Bill will address the much-needed deepening of decentralization below the Ward level down to the village levels.
The statutory instrument of 2004 which was enacted to drive the process of devolution was meant to last for four years, which he said has been fourteen years since that mandate expired. For this, he said the devolution function has become a deadlock.
In his contribution, the leader of government business in the house of parliament, Mattew Saa Nyuma, said that they will continue to amend laws that will stand the test of time.
After acknowledging the level of consultation with the traditional leaders by the ministry, he also called on the ministry for more consultation to that ensure laws are reflective of the people.
Among other things, the proposed law seeks to ensure service benefit to core staff, Mayor, and Chairmen of the council.
The bill if passed into law will ensure Major, Chairmen, and their deputies contest elections as running mates, as against the current practice of the Mayors or Chairmen select their deputies among the elected councillors.
The pre-legislative hearing which was supported by the E U was attended by Paramount Chiefs, Civil Society Organisations, and other stakeholders.
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