By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay
Parliament on Thursday 29 August approved veteran journalist and media practitioner, Joshua Nicol and nine other presidential appointees to different government agencies.
The approval was the first order of business on Thursday by the house, following the end of its recess.
Nicol who is a lecturer at the Mass Communications Department of Fourah Bay College was appointed as Member to the Advisory Board of the Anti-Corruption Commission. He had a stellar career at the state broadcaster, Sierra Leone Broadcasting Service, and also worked at the Dutch state broadcaster, RNTC.
In 2008, he was also appointed as a Commissioner to the Independent Media Commission to represent the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists, and served for two terms.
The other media appointee of the day was Alphinia Williams. The Radio Mariah broadcaster was appointed as a Commissioner at the Independent Media Commission.
Rosaline M’Carthy and Abu Bakar Sheriff were both appointed as members of the Board of Directors at the Sierra Leone Water Company
Edleene Elba was appointed Member of the Board of Directors at the Sierra Leone Local Content Agency.
There were two appointments approved for Audit Service Sierra Leone. Fatmata Denton was appointed as a member to the Board of Directors and Charles Rogers approved as Chairman, Board of Directors.
In the transportation sector, Alhaji Mohamed Fadika was confirmed as a member to the Board of Directors at Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority, whiles Doris Fisher was approved as a Board Member at the Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority.
During the approval, the acting Leader of Government Business for the day Hon. Sahr Martin Nyuma, said the nominees were thoroughly vetted beyond the normal information that was provided to Parliament.
In addressing the appointees, the Speaker of Parliament, Dr Abbass Bundu warned that there was no margin for failure considering the experience of the appointees and the expectation surrounding their delivery.
“With their background and experience, I think this entire house has no doubt that they will deliver to the expectation of the country and His Excellency the President,” he said.
Bashir Sidikie, MP, of the Sierra Leone People's Party reechoed the same call Dr. Bundu made. Sidikie urged the appointees not to forget the social contract they had with the people of Sierra Leone.
“There is a social contract between you and the people of this country. Our advice as a parliament is for you to deliver. You have the principal responsibility to deliver because the people of this country are in haste for development,” Sidikie said.
On the side of the opposition, Hon. Hassan Sesay of the All People's Congress party admonished the appointees to work in the interest of the country.
“When we fail to separate national issues from partisan issues that is the start of failure in our governance system. My appeal to all nominees is to work in the interest of Sierra Leone. Because there is only one country called Sierra Leone,” Sesay said.
Following their approval, all ten nominees will take an official oath of office in the presence of President Julius Maada Bio before they resume work.
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