By Nasratu Kargbo
The National Commission for Privatisation (NCP) Chairman Dr. Prince Harding has revealed plans by the institution to generate over 160 billion Leones in the coming year.
Speaking at the ongoing 2021/2022 budget hearing at the Ministry of Finance in Freetown, the chairman said the NCP generated just over 144 billion Leones in the last six months, the first ever to be recorded in the country’s history.
According to Dr. Harding, this was the first time for the State Lottery Company (Lotto) to pay government and all their staff, after constant supervision for the past 3 months.
He added that the company has created more jobs and that the competition is now great between them and Mercury international, another betting company.
When asked how NCP has helped institutions be efficient and able to overcome challenges, the chairman said that it is one of their mandates to understand the challenges faced by the institutions they monitor.
The Chairman explained that the NCP has initiated a strategy where they have developed a matrix document that they have sent to all state- owned enterprises, and after every four months, these institutions would have to complete the forms received.
Upon completion of the forms, he said they will do an assessment of the institution under review and take note of their challenges in order to address them.
Speaking on challenges, Dr. Harding expressed dire need of vehicles in order for the NCP to perform its duties effectively and efficiently. He stated that the institution needs mobility to move around the country and see how privatisation has created impact in people’s lives in different parts of the country and to enable them implement what they have planned.
In addition, he spoke on the need to have trainings and about the commission being understaffed, noting that they have to monitor about 15 parastatals.
Speaking on the budget for 2022, he said they requested for 6 billion Leones which according to him is less than 4% of the revenue they have generated for the government in the past six months. Yet he claimed the Finance ministry could not give them that amount, and instead asked them to work with the Ministry of Transport and Aviation, since mobility is one of the challenges they have highlighted.
Dr. Harding assured Sierra Leoneans that their duty is to not to sell property; he explained that the NCP is there to run state institutions effectively and efficiently, and make money for government, adding that the government is very sensitive about selling people’s property. The money made would be used for developmental purposes such as roads, hospitals etc. which will create jobs to mitigate poverty in the country, especially in the rural areas.
Copyright © Politico Online (06/10/21)
