By Chernor Alimamy Kamara
The Ministry of Works and Public Assets has requested a realistic and timely resource allocation so that they could implement their projects efficiently.
The ministry’s Permanent Secretary Rukiatu K. Kamara made this request on Friday 23rd September 2022 during the ongoing budget presentation at the Ministry of Finance (MoF).
She said allocating funds on time would address their outstanding projects for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022, and those in the Medium Term Expenditure Priorities (MTEF) 2023-2025 budget proposal.
She stated that for FY 2021 and January to August 2022, the works ministry implemented its management and functional review of the ministry. She also said that the review of the Road Sector Act is actively in progress and highlighted the completion of Magbele and Mabang bridges and the launching of construction work on the 78 kilometers Sefadu-Kamiendor-Guinea border road through a public-private partnership. She said they have also completed the rehabilitation of the Provincial Administration and Magistrate offices in Bo and also the Provincial Secretary’s residence in Makeni.
She spoke about the ongoing Management and Functional Review of the ministry and of them having monitored and supervised the Smallholder Commercialization and Agribusiness Development Project (SCaDeP) feeder roads projects nationwide. She also said that Cabinet has approved a review of the National Assets and Government Property Commission Act of 1990.
While highlighting the works ministry’s internal strength, the permanent secretary noted that they have a staff development plan to improve the skills of officers and project staff and that the ministry has reviewed and enacted the professional Engineering Regulation Council Act of 2021 that seeks to improve engineering standards in the country.
She spoke about their internal strengths and weaknesses, the huge payment arrears to contractors and suppliers, shortage of qualified staff, and outdated policies such as the feeder road policy and road sector Acts.
She claimed they lack insufficient allocation of the budget which affects the capacity to monitor their projects.
Kamara stated that the leadership of the ministry is of the view that, Government should start sourcing substantial loans/grants for the construction or rehabilitation of public buildings. This she said will enhance all other sectors in Government to flourish in a short period of time.
Copyright © 2022 Politico Online (26/09/22)
