By Kemo Cham
The Republic Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) is seeking for an increment in its yearly funding to enable it invest more on its personnel with the goal of improving on their working condition and maximizing their public service delivery.
The military high command, headed by the recently appointed Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Sullay Sesay, met with Finance Minister Jacob Jusu Saffa on Wednesday, according to a news dispatch from the Ministry.
The army leadership, according to the dispatch, is also seeking to boost the operations of specialized units within the force, notably its engineering and agricultural units, training and recruitment, accommodation of personnel and health. They also want to improve on the force’s Peace Support Operations.
Lieutenant General Sesay was reported saying that there had been “very huge concern” for the RSLAF over issues that have collectively impacted morale within the force.
RSLAF has been the most enterprising security arm in Sierra Leone; besides its role of guaranteeing external security, it runs one of the best hospitals in the country, the 35 Military Hospital.
But it has been struggling to meet expectations in other areas, particularly activities in engineering and agriculture. The MoD, for instance, still imports a substantial portion of the rice it supplies to its personnel, even though it cultivates its own rice.
The statement from the Finance Ministry did not indicate any figure, and officials in the communication unit in the ministry reached by Politico said no figures were discussed. But they said all these were issues raised by the CDS and his team during the meeting with the Finance Minister and Financial Secretary, Sahr Jusu.
The Defense sector currently receives one of the largest chunks of the national budget. In the current year (2020), it was allocated Le70.8billion, despite requesting for Le 175 million.
Back then the Finance Ministry placed a budget cap of Le100billion on the Ministry of Defense (MoD), which supervises RSLAF. MoD officials argued then that it was almost impossible for the army to function properly if its budget stuck strictly by that cap.
The previous year, in 2018, the MoD was allocated Le 133.1 billion, but they received less that 50 percent of it by the end of the year.
According to RSLAF, 65 percent of its budget goes into logistics. This doesn’t include capital spending like the air force or maritime capability. It’s for basic spending, like rice for the army personnel, drugs for the 34 Military Hospital and fuel.
As part of its programs last year, RSLAF planned to complete reconstruction work on the Wilberforce Barracks, Gondama Barracks and the Boom Defense Guest House at Kingtom in Freetown. The military also planned to construct patrol and operational bases across the country.
With the army engineering unit, RSLAF says they want to compete with local contractors for construction works, which can serve as a source for more revenue generation.
Pre-budget discussions for the 2021 financial year are expected to commence soon, with Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) expected to present their individual budgets for scrutiny and subsequent approval by the Finance Ministry.
Finance Ministry officials assured the military leadership on Wednesday of their commitment to ensuring that they have what they need, given their role in national development.
“Issues regarding the military are very critical to the security of the state and therefore must be given high priority,” Finance Minister Saffa was quoted saying.
He also reportedly asked the CDS to work with his team at the Ministry to look at the financial implications relating to the issues raised on conditions of service, accommodation, among others.
CDS Sesay was accompanied by Maj-Gen Peter K. Lavahun, Joint Force Commander, among other top RSLAF Generals.
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