Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698831107425.pdf (Sierra Leone)
OAU DRIVE, TOWER HILL, FREETOWN P A R L I A M E N T A R Y D E B A T E S ____ [HANSARD] ______________ OFFICIAL HANSARD REPORT FOURTH SESSION –FIRST MEETING FRIDAY, 17TH DECEMBER, 2021 SESSION – 2020/2021 OAU DRIVE, TOWER HILL, FREETOWN P A R L I A M E N T A R Y D E B A T E S ____ [HANSARD] ______________ OFFICIAL HANSARD REPORT VOLUME: I NUMBER: 36 First Meeting of the Fourth Session of the Fifth Parliament of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone.
Proceedings of the Sitting of the House Held Friday, 17th December, 2021.

2 CONTENTS I. PRAYERS II.

RECORD OF VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS FOR THE PARLIAMENTARY SITTING HELD ON THURSDAY 16TH DECEMBER, 2021 III.

ANNOUNCEMENT BY MR SPEAKER IV.

BILL [COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY] [THE BILL ENTITLED THE APPROPRIATION ACT, 2022.
BY THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF FINANCE - MR SHEKU FANTAMADI BANGURA] 3 THE CHAMBER OF PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE Official Hansard Report of the Proceedings of the House _____________________________________________________________ FOURTH SESSION – FIRST MEETING OF THE FIFTH PARLIAMENT OF THE SECOND REPUBLIC _____________________________ Friday, 17th December, 2021.

I. PRAYERS [The Table Clerk, Mrs Bintu Weston, Read the Prayers] [The House met at 10:50a.m.
in Parliament Building, Tower Hill, Freetown] [The Speaker, Hon.

Dr Chernor Abass Bundu in the Chair] The House was called to Order 4 COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR Suspension of S. O.

5[2] II.

CORRECTION OF VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS FOR THE PARLIAMENTARY SITTING HELD ON THURSDAY 16TH DECEMBER, 2021 THE SPEAKER: We shall now take up our record of Votes and Proceedings starting from page 5.

Any corrections?

Page 6?

Page 7?

Page 8?

Page 9?

Page 10?

And Page 11?


No amendment can somebody please move for the adoption of the Record of Votes and Proceedings for the Parliamentary Sitting held on Thursday 16th December, 2021.

HON.

MOSES A. EDWIN: I so move, Mr Speaker.

THE SPEAKER: Any seconder?

HON.

JAMES O. THOLLEY: I so second Mr Speaker.

[Question Proposed, Put and Agreed to] [Record of Votes and Proceedings for the Parliamentary Sitting held on Thursday 16th December, 2021 has been adopted as presented] III.
ANNOUNCEMENT BY MR SPEAKER THE SPEAKER: Honourable Members, yesterday we did well with our time.

Today I cannot proudly say we will do well.

I thought we were going to be consistent starting from yesterday, but the lapses have started.

Let us endeavour next time please to improve on our performances but there is a more important thing I want to draw to the attention of the House.
If you look at S.O [65], there is a time limitation which has to be honoured, it says; ‘there shall be allotted a maximum of 5 days for discussion of the Appropriation Bill in Committee of Supply’.

So we started yesterday, today is the second day, we have eleven reports to look at, we only did two yesterday and I am beginning to envisage that under S.O [82] we might have to suspend operations of SO [65] to allow us to continue.
I don’t want that to happen because if we do that we are going to get into the holiday period and I am sure a lot of you would like to be with 5 your constituents for the Christmas break.

So this insist on two things, [1] let us try to be punctual [2] Let us try to work as expeditiously as possible to get through those reports within those five days.

There is no magic to it we simply have to make the extra effort, nobody can conjure anything here I am sure you would all agree.
So I just thought at this time, I should draw the attention of the entire House to the provisions of those S.O’s.

Thank you.

Let us proceed with the day’s business.

IV.

BILL THE APPROPRIATION ACT, 2022 COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY MINISTER OF FINANCE [THE HOUSE RESOLVES INTO COMMITTEE] THE CHAIRMAN: We are taking Committee 3 report.
Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, I pronounce the following vote heads and corresponding estimates to stand part of the schedule; 424 00, 401 00, 410 00, 318 00, 124 01, 408 00, 701 06, 701 08, 124 07, 110 17, 403 05, 423 00, 110 13, 418 00.

HON.

BASHIRU SILIKIE: Mr Speaker, I would want to suggest because of time we listen to the two Chairmen’s reports and we debate them in tandem.

THE CHAIRMAN: Say that again.

HON.


BASHIRU SILIKIE: We listened to the two Reports by the two Chairmen and we debate them in tandem instead of reading the one report and we debate and wait for another to be debated.

The two Chairmen reports and we debate the two reports for the sake of time sir.

THE CHAIRMAN: That is a proposal.

I think it makes sense if so decided.

Both will be presented before we debate.

Mr Minister, go ahead.
6 MR SHEKU FANTAMADI BANGURA [Deputy Minister of Finance]: Honourable Chairman, Honourable Members, I move that the following vote heads stand part of the schedule: Committee of Supply Part [3] votes; 424 00 Petroleum Directorate [P.D] 7,264,494,800.00 401 00 Ministry of Agriculture 34,529,058,900.00 410 00 National Protected Area Authority [NPAA] 3,261,474,300.00 318 00 Ministry of Environment 3,837,496,900.00 124 01 Office of Administration & Registrar General 4,245,069,000.00 408 00 Min.
of Works, and Public Assets 12,664,264,400.00 701 701 124 110 06 08 07 17 Kono District Council Bombali District Council Legal Aid Board.

3,877,881,359.00 4,829,489,051.00 7,500,000.000.00 Public Sector Reform Unit [PSRU] 1,600,000,000.00 403 05 National Mineral Agency [NMA] 2,182,820,300.00 423 110 418 00 13 00 Petroleum Regulatory Agency [PRA] 12,369,484,400.00 Sierra Leone Insurance Comm.

[SLICOM] 1,700,900,000.00 SLARI 3,700,000,000.00 THE CHAIRMAN: Thank you.
The Clerk would you now present Committee 7 report.

[Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, I pronounce the following vote heads and the corresponding estimates to stand part of the schedule: 7 107 00, 107 04, 108 00, 112 03, 122 00, 211 00, 301 00, 315 00, 413 00, 417 00, 426 00, 428 00, 705 01, 701 01].

THE CHAIRMAN: Mr Minister, just a moment please.

Can we get a record of the MDAs in attendance, in keeping with the resolution we passed yesterday.
Okay whilst you are doing that, this is necessary because we would like to deal with these two reports together as we agreed yesterday, at the end of which we can ask the officials concerned to take leave of us and go back to their Ministries but I would like at some point to make an announcement of the MDAs that really come in the afternoon, so that appropriate notice is given out to them.

Let us carry on Mr Minister.


MR SHEKU FANTAMADI BANGURA: Honourable Chairman, Honourable Members, I move that the following vote heads stand part of the schedule: Committee of Supply Part 7 107 00 Ministry of Local Government and Rural Dev.
4,863,092,800.00 107 04, Northern Province, Makeni 3,081,499,100.00 108 112 122 211 301 315 413 00 03 00 00 00 00 00 Sierra Leone Small Arms Commission 1,259,900,000.00 Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative 734,025,700.00 Secretariat Human Resource Management Office 3,500,000,000.00 Immigration Department 7,334,833,400.00 Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education 31,299,436,000.00 Teaching Hospital Complex Administration 2,000,000,000.00 Sierra Leone Electricity and Water Regulatory 954,379,100.00 Commission 417 00 Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection 3,000,000,000.00 Authority 8 426 428 705 701 00 00 01 01 Sierra Leon Seed Certification Agency 1,500,000,000.00 National Investment Board 841,428,800.00 Koidu New Senbenhun City Council 5,666,017,623.00 Tonkolili District Council 7,650,939,301.00 THE CHAIRMAN: The Chairpersons of the two groups, group 3 would read first followed by group 7.
The Chairman I have here is Honourable Sallieu Osman Sesay, is he here?

Are you the one?

Honourable Members, the question that the Vote Heads and corresponding estimates as pronounced by the Minister, for group [3] and [7] stand part of schedule.

[Question Proposed] [Report of the sectorial Committees under consideration by the Chairman of the Finance Committee.

The Chairman for group [3] reads the Report] THE CHAIRMAN: Where you here yesterday?

and hope you know the procedure we adopted.

Thank you.
Thank you.

HON.

SAIDU B. KAMARA [Chairman Group 3]: Mr Chairman, Report on the Appropriation Bill 2022, held from the 30th November to the 8th of December, 2021.

INTRODUCTION Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, pursuant to Section [111], Sub-section [3] and Section [112], Sub-section [6] of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone, Act No.
6 of 1991 and Standing Orders S.O 64[3], Parliament committed the examination of the under-mentioned budgetary heads of the Bill entitled “The Appropriation Act, 2022”, to the Appropriation Sub-Committee three [3].
In line with Standing Orders 66[1], this Committee was charged with the responsibility of working with Vote Controllers and Accounting Officers of all MDAs assigned to this Committee to carefully scrutinize the budgets allocated to them in the FYs 2020 and 2021 in order to ascertain whether 9 these funds were judiciously utilised and to justify their 2022 budgets submission in accordance with their work plans of deliverables presented to this Committee.
The proposed FY 2022 budget estimates for the various Heads and Sub-heads under review are as follow: MDAs ACCOUNTS HEADS (INCLUDING SUB-HEADS) FOR 2022 Vote Division Vote Description Total Sum Voted (Le) 424 401 00 00 S/Leone Petroleum Directorate ( SLPD) 7,264,494,800 Ministry of Agriculture & Food Security 34,529,058,900 410 00 National Protected Area Authority (NPAA) 3,261,474,300 318 00 Ministry of Environment 3,837,496,900 124 01 Office of Administration & Registrar General 4,245,069,000 (OARG) 408 00 Ministry of Works and Public Assets 12,664,264,400 701 06 Kono District Council 701 08 Bombali Dist.
Council 124 07 Legal Aid Board.

3,877,881,359 4,829,489,051 7,500,000,000 110 17 Public Sector Reform Unit (PSRU) 1,600,000,000 403 05 National Mineral Agency ( NMA) 2,182,820,300 423 00 S/L Petroleum Regulatory Agency ( SLPRA) 12,369,848,400 110 13 Sierra Leone Insurance Comm.

( SLICOM) 1,700,900,000 418 00 Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Inst.
3,700,000,000 10 PROCEDURE Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, Sub-Appropriation Committee [3] followed the established procedure of scrutinising heads of expenditure.

The Committee sent out questionnaires to all the MDAs assigned to it, for detailed information relating to the 2020 and 2021, budgetary activities.

Pursuant to S.Os.
Pursuant to S.Os.

66[1], Vote Controllers were summoned to come along with their financial documents pertaining to revenues and expenditures of their MDAs to ascertain the efficient and effective use of both human and financial resources, the constraints encountered by MDAs and the adequacy or otherwise of their allocations.

OBJECTIVES In line with S.Os.
66[1], Sub-Appropriation Committee [3] probed MDAs with the following objectives; • To ascertain whether MDAs adhere to prudent financial management regulations as means of enhancing accountability in the utilisation of financial resources allocated in 2021 FY; • To determine the strengths and weaknesses [if any] in the budget preparation and performance with a view to improving the appropriation process; • To examine the challenges encountered by MDAs in executing their mandate; and • To establish whether budgetary resources were equitably distributed and on time.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS Sub-Appropriation Committee 3 comprised of the following Members: 1.

Hon.

Sallieu Osman Sesay – CHAIRMAN 2.

Hon.

Saidu Babah Kamara – DEPUTY CHAIRMAN 3.

Hon.

Bangura Cecilia Mabinty 4.

Hon.

P.C Bubu Ngbak IV Bai Farama Tass 5.

Hon.

Jabbie Alpha Fode Madie 6.

Hon.

Samura Hajaratu Faith 11 7.

Hon.

Dr. Ibrahim Bun.

Kamara 8.

Hon.

Benjamin Turay 9.

Hon.

Gbekie Emmanuel Sahr 10.

Hon.

Williams Lamin Joseph 11.

Hon.

Foday Mario Kamara 12.

Hon.

Festus Mohamed Lansana 13.


Hon.

John Charles Conteh 14.

Hon.

Abubakar Fofanah SUPPORT STAFF 1.

Mahmoud Barrie – Lead Clerk 2.

Mohamed Kargbo 3.

Sulaiman A. Musa 4.

Gladys Mac-Turay 5.

Lawrence K. Kamara GENERAL OBSERVATIONS AND FINDINGS Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, I wish to draw the attention of this House to the following general observations in respect of the MDAs that appeared before Sub Appropriation Committee 3.

[i].
[i].

The Committee observed that the Finance Minister did not comply with Section 41 [1] of the Finance Act of 2020, which states that the budget shall be laid before Parliament not later than six weeks to the start of the FY to which it relates.

The 2022 budget was presented on Friday 19th November instead of Friday 12th November.
Furthermore, the Fiscal Strategy Statement [which captures the overview of recent macroeconomic and fiscal development and macroeconomic forecast for the next three years] was also not submitted at the end of October, 2021 as provided in Section 40 [1] of the Finance Act of 2020, which repealed Section [23] of the PFM Act, of 2016.

12 Thus, the Committee recommends that in future, the Minister of Finance complies with Sections 40 [1] and 41[1] of the Finance Act of 2020.

[ii].
[ii].

In spite of Parliament’s persistent recommendation over the years, the Committee observed that a good number of the MDAs assigned to this Committee only received the 1st and 2nd quarters’ allocations and those that received for all the quarters had their actual allocations reduced.
This situation negatively impacted the performance of MDAs and thus recommends that in future, the Ministry of Finance adequately disburses financial resources approved by this House, so that MDAs can safely implement their planned activities without hindrance.

[iii].

The Committee further observed that the Ministry of Finance hardly implement the recommendations made by Sub-appropriation Committees.
Thus, the Committee recommends that the Ministry of Finance looks into key challenges affecting MDAs in order to ensure effective service delivery to the people of Sierra Leone.
SPECIFIC OBSERVATIONS AND FINDINGS Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, below are the specific observations and recommendations on the MDAs assigned to this Committee: VOTE-42400, SIERRA LEONE PETROLEUM DIRECTORATE [SLPD] Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, the Sierra Leone Petroleum Directorate is one of the revenue generating institutions in this country.
It was established to facilitate the optimal exploration and development of Sierra Leone’s petroleum resources, for the long term benefit of its people, through the development of regulatory guidelines and monitoring contract compliance, having due regard to the economy, environment, safety, technology, as well as balancing the interests of the nation and investors.
13 Under the authority of the President, this Act established the Petroleum Resources Unit [PRU] to “represent the State exclusively in negotiations with interested parties for exploration, development or production of petroleum, to act on behalf of the State in petroleum agreements and to regulate the petroleum industry in Sierra Leone.” The budget analysis for 2021 FY is shown in the table below: No Details Amount [Le] Total [Le] 1 2 3 Budget Approved Actual budget Allocated [Q1 to Q3] Actual Budget Received [Q1 to Q3] 6,000,000,000 18,734,000,000 2,675,741,731 Key Findings As a revenue generating institution, the Directorate’s revenue target for 2021 FY was Le 34.4bln, but only generated Le 5.4 billion.
The Committee observed that the Directorate retained 70% of the total revenue generated for administrative expenses.

For 2022 FY, the Directorate submitted a budget of 20,696,000,000, but was allocated the sum of Le 7,264,484,800 by the Ministry of Finance.

According to the Vote Controller, the 64.8% decrease would affect capacity building, promotion and marketing of the country’s basin of oil and gas.
Whilst the Committee considered the Le 7,264,484,800 as inadequate and therefore recommends for a supplementary budget allocation, the Directorate is hereby urged to employ aggressive marketing strategies and intensifies consultation and collaboration with international oil companies.

VOTE-40100, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY Mr Chairman, Hon.
Members, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security was established to formulate Agricultural Development Policies, and advise the 14 Government on such policies relating to its administration and management of the Agricultural Sector of Sierra Leone’s Economy.

The Ministry has eight operational divisions.
Mr Chairman Honourable Members, for 2021 FY, the Ministry’s budget analysis is shown in the table below: No Details Amount [Le] Total [Le] 1 2 3 Budget Approved [Total] Actual budget Allocated [Q1 to Q3] 31,529,000,000 143,329,000,000 Actual Budget disbursement [Q1 to 16,375,000,000 Q3] Further discussions with Management and the review of the filled questionnaire revealed the following: ▪ Le 71.098 billion was allocated for domestic and capital expenditure projects, such as the supply of tractors, harvesters, fertilizers, etc.
; ▪ Le 16.375 billion was allocated for recurrent expenditures, such as maintenance, fuel, local and overseas travels; and ▪ Out of the Le 600mln revenue target for 2021 FY, the Ministry collected Le 513 million and paid same to the CRF.

For 2022 FY, the Ministry submitted a budget of Le 55.963 billion, but was allocated the sum of Le 34.529 billion, below its original budget submission.

The decrease, according to the PS, would affect the Ministry’s operations.
The Ministry’s revenue target for 2022 FY is Le 700 million.

Key Findings /Challenges The Permanent Secretary disclosed the following as key challenges confronted the smooth implementation of the 2021 budget: late disbursement of funds, lack of incentives and staff motivation, leading to high attrition rate, lack of capacity building 15 for specialists workers, inadequate mobility, limited research and development to meet farmers’ needs.
RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends that the Ministry of Finance and donor partners pay special attention to this Ministry by providing the required resources in time, in order to achieve the vision of food sufficiency for Sierra Leone.

Thus, the Committee recommends for a supplementary budget for this Ministry.
VOTE-41000, NATIONAL PROTECTED AREA AUTHORITY [NPAA] AND CONSERVATION TRUST FUND Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, the National Protected Area Authority [NPAA] and the National Conservation Trust Fund [NCTF] were established by an Act of Parliament in 2012, to provide oversight for National Parks and Protected Areas designated for conservation purposes, with the aim of protecting the forests, fauna and flora in their natural state.
Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, according to the NPAA Act, Section 21 [1] provided that the funds of the Trust Fund shall consist of; [a].

Monies appropriated by Parliament for the purposes of the Authority; [b].

All monies given to the Authority by way of gifts, endowments, bequest, grant or other contributions by persons and organisations for the purposes of the Authority.
In light of the above provisions, it is clear that the National Conservation Trust Fund carries the Vote Head for budgetary allocation purposes and the NPAA implements all projects and activities of the Protected Area Management.
In 2021 FY, the key deliverables of the NPAA and Conservation Trust Fund include administrative cost, outreach and Communication, Community Conservation, Co- Management and Livelihood, Law enforcement, Planning, Monitoring and evaluation, governance and compliance, protected area management services and recruitment of 500 game guards.
16 The budget analysis for 2021 FY is shown in the table below: No Details Amount [Le] Total [Le] Budget Approved [Total] Actual budget Allocated [Q1 to Q3] Actual Budget disbursement [Q3] Grants /Donation Other sources of revenue Total Recurrent Expenditures 1,787,874,300 1,787,874,300 1,390,700,000 555,910,000 2,500,000 3,560,148,759 For 2022 FY, the NPAA and Conservation Trust Fund submitted a budget of Le 5.8 billion, but was allocated the sum of Le 3.2 billion, below its original budget.
KEY FINDINGS/CHALLENGES: Late disbursement of funds, disproportionate increase in population and the desire of people in the Western Area for housing, fuel wood, charcoal, construction poles and other forest resources have made it very difficult for the conservation of the Western Area Peninsular National Park.

The NPAA also encountered logistics and modern equipment constraints, deforestation and physical attacks on game guards.
The Committee further noted that the Conservation Trust Fund had submitted draft legislations to Parliament so as to empower their revenue collection drive, but is yet to be enacted into law.

RECOMENDATION The Committee viewed the Authority’s allocation as inadequate and therefore recommends that a supplementary budget is provided.

The Committee also recommends that the Conservation Trust Fund is given a separate vote head going forward.
VOTE-31800, MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT 17 Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, the Ministry of Environment is responsible for a range of government policies related to the protection and management of the environment and its natural resources.

The Ministry is charged with the responsibility of supervising government agencies in addressing different environmental issues.

The Ministry’s 2021 FY’s budget analysis is shown in the table below.
No Details Budget Approved [Total] Actual budget Allocated [Q1 to Q3] Actual Budget disbursement [Q1 to 2] only Donor Funding/Grants [WED] Donor Funding/Grants [UNPFA] Total [Le] 3,837,400,000 1,820,100,000 437,428,000 114,500,000 515,037,000 The Committee observed that the Ministry received Le 1.066 billion from the above mentioned sources for recurrent expenditures and capital project.

For 2022 FY, the Ministry submitted a budget of Le 4.469 billion, but was allocated Le 3.837 billion.
KEY FINDINGS: The Committee noted that the budget cut will affect areas such as institutional strengthening, national tree planting project, trainings, etc.

RECOMENDATION The Committee viewed the allocation to this Ministry as inadequate and therefore recommends for supplementary budget.
VOTE-12401, OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATOR AND REGISTRAR GENERAL 18 Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, the Office of the Administrator and Registrar General [OARG] comprises the General Registry which was established under the General Registration Act of 1995, Cap [55] and the Office of the Administrator General by the Administration of Estate Act, 1960 Cap 45 of the Laws of Sierra Leone.
With the Amendment of the Administration of the Estate Act 1976, the two Offices were merged under the supervision of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice.

The OARG generates revenue from the registration of legal instruments, conveyances, businesses, Marriages, intellectual properties and estates, etc.

For 2021 FY, key deliverables of the AORG included administrative cost, automation and digitalization, capacity building, sustainability of regional offices, sensitization and reviewing of I.P Act.
The OARG’s budget analysis for 2021 FY is shown in the table below: No Details 1 2 3 4 Budget Approved [Total] Actual budget Allocated [Q1 to Q3] Actual Budget received [Q1 to 2] only Actual Recurrent expenditures Total [Le] 4,045,000,000 3,714,566,150 1,960,635,602 1, 949,000,000 Out of a revenue target of Le 5.2 billion, actual revenue collected was Le 3.9 billion.

The OARG’s revenue target for 2022 FY is Le 5.5 billion.
For 2022 FY, the OARG submitted a budget of Le 6.6 billion, but was allocated Le 4.2 billion.

KEY FINDINGS: The Committee observed that the OARG is yet to retain any percentage from revenue generated and with no access to their transit account to facilitate independent reconciliation.

19 RECOMENDATION Whilst the Committee viewed the allocation as adequate and therefore recommends for its approval, the Committee also recommends that the OARG retains certain percentage of revenue collected.
VOTE: 408-00 - MINISTRY OF WORKS AND PUBLIC ASSETS Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, the Ministry of Works and Public Assets is responsible for the development of appropriate policies and programmes for the improvement of public infrastructure, including housing and construction and maintenance of Government buildings.
For 2021 FY, key deliverables of the Ministry of Works and Public Assets include administrative cost, restructuring of the Ministry, rehabilitation of existing Presidential Lodge and government administrative buildings, feasibility studies for construction of new structures, completion of the Bo Magistrate Court and twelve government quarters with a total budget of Le 10.6 billion.

The Ministry’s budget analysis for 2021 FY is shown in the table below.
No Details Budget Approved [Total] Actual budget Allocated [Q1 to Q3] 1 2 3 4 Actual Budget disbursement [Q1 to 2] only 6,006,700,000 Donor Funding NA Total [Le] 12,664,264400 6,006,700,000 The major revenue sources reported by the Ministry are registration of contractors, quarry operations, licenses, petroleum storage certificate, carpentry workshop, mechanical workshop, Youyi Building Canteen, Miatta Conference Hall, Warehouse/Lease rent.
Revenue collected are paid directly to the CRF by clients and evidence of such payments are submitted to the NRA officer assigned to the Ministry.

20 In 2021 FY, the Ministry’s revenue target was Le 1.2 billion, but actual revenue collected was Le 650 million as at 30th September, 2021.

Recurrent expenditures from GoSL budget allocation was Le 4.8 billion for 2021 FY.

For 2022 FY, the Ministry submitted a budget of Le 27.8 billion, but was allocated Le 12.6 billion.
The 54.6% budget cut, according to the PS, would affect the operations of the Ministry.

RECOMENDATION The Committee viewed the proposed allocation as inadequate and therefore recommends for a supplementary budget.

VOTE-70106, KONO DISTRICT COUNCIL Mr Chairman Hon.


Members for the F.Y 2021 key deliverables or program of activities of the Kono District Council for the various devolved sectors include administrative cost of operations, rehabilitation of UMC Primary School Pendembu, support the construction of UMC primary school in Simbakoro, rehabilitation of Evangelical JSS School, procurement of solar light and rehabilitation of PHUs within the district.
The budget analysis of this Council for 2021 FY is shown in the table below.

No Details Budget Approved [Total] Total [Le] 7,985,660,242 Actual budget Allocated [Q1 to Q3] 2,838,014,122 Actual Budget disbursement [Q1 to 2] only 2,838,014,122 Revenue from Road Maintenance Fund Admin.

3,228,758,626 Own Source Revenue Generated as at 30th Sept 740,572,212 21 For 2021 FY, Council’s revenue target was Le 1.3 billion, but actual revenue collected was Le 740 million as at 30th September, 2021.
The Committee observed a number challenges associated with revenue collection, such as interference from chiefdom authorities on Council’s revenue, tax evasion and inadequate mobility for tax collectors.

The recurrent expenditures from GoSL budget was Le 4.8 billion and own source revenue of Le 681million.

The development expenditures from the KFW German Grant was Le 648 million and from RMFA was 504 million.

The closing bank balance as at 30th September, 2021 is Le 212.7 million.
For 2022 FY, the Bombali District Council presented the following key deliverables for it devolved sectors: ▪ Administrative cost; ▪ Monitoring and supervision of schools and distribution of learning materials within the District; and ▪ Coordination of sports and extra curricula activities, etc.
The budget analysis for 2022 FY is shown in the table below: No Details Total [Le] 1 2 3 Budget Ceilings Advised by MoF 3,604,066,912 Budget Submissions by Council 3,604,066,912 Budget to be Approved by Parliament 3,877,881,359 KEY FINDINGS: Further discussions with Management and the review of the filled questionnaire revealed the following: ▪ Council received 89.99% of total budget approved by Parliament as at 30th September, 2021; and 22 ▪ The Cadastral System used to value properties is not fully operational and the loss of tax revenue paid to local authorities.
RECOMENDATION The Committee viewed the allocation to Kono District Council as adequate and therefore recommends its approval.

VOTE-70108, BOMBALI DISTRICT COUNCIL The key deliverables of Bombali District Council for the various devolved sectors include administrative operations, rehabilitation of Primary Health Units [PHUs], support to 74 PHUs, increase livestock and productivity, increase the production and export of crops, rehabilitation of schools, and sensitization on fire prevention campaign.
For 2021 FY, Council’s budget analysis is shown in the table below.

No Details Euro Total [Le] Budget Approved [Total] Actual budget Allocated [Q1 to Q3] 2,652,007,196.00 2,386,531,552,73 Actual Budget disbursement [Q1 to 2] only 2,386,531,552,73 Revenue from Road Maintenance Fund Admin.
1, 847,418,280.45 European Union Grant 375,053,.55 Key Findings The Committee’s discussions with Management and the review of the filled questionnaire revealed the following: ▪ out of a revenue target of Le 1.07 billion, only Le 418.2 million was collected as at 30th September, 2021; and ▪ the fall in revenue collection was due to challenges such as dysfunctional cadastral system, unwillingness of chiefdom authorities to share revenue collected with 23 Council, refusal of Sun Bird to pay Council huge amount of surface rent since 2020 to date; and ▪ Recurrent expenditures from GoSL budget was Le 1.9 billion and the own source revenue was Le 488 million.
The development expenditures from the E.U was Le 943 million and from RMFA was 1.837 billion.

Council maintains ten operational accounts with closing bank balances totalling Le 212.7 million as at 30th September, 2021For 2022 FY, this Council presented the following key deliverables for it devolved sectors: ▪ Administrative cost; ▪ Monitoring and supervision of schools and distribution of learning materials within the District; and ▪ Coordination of sports and extra curricula activities, etc.
The budget analysis for 2022 FY is shown in the table below: No Details Total [Le] 1 2 3 Budget Ceiling Advised by MoF 3,604,066,912 Budget Submissions 3,604,066,912 Budget to be Approved by Parliament 3,877,881,359 RECOMENDATION Whilst the Committee viewed this allocation as adequate and therefore recommends for its approval, the Committee however advised Management to ensure that Sun Bird is compelled to pay the outstanding amount with immediate effect.
VOTE-12407, LEGAL AID BOARD Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, the Sierra Leone Legal Aid Board is an independent non-profit state organization.

The Legal Aid Act was passed in May 2012 and the Board started operation in May 2015 following the opening of the Office in Freetown.

24 The Legal Aid Board is the largest legal aid organization in the country and this is so because it has paralegals in all the sixteen districts in the country.
Also, they have eighteen Lawyers, eight of whom are resident outside Freetown.

The Board has established a niche in the provision of primary justice services and this has made it easier for people, particularly those in remote communities to access justice through Alternative Dispute Resolution Services, Legal Empowerment, referrals to the relevant justice systems and provision of advice and legal assistance to both administrators and users of the Local Court and the informal justice system.
In 2021 FY, key deliverables of the Board include administrative costs, capacity building, broadening accessibility to vulnerable people, including foreigners ordinarily resident in S/Leone, improve legal empowerment, improve coordination and supervision to strengthen the Board’s Strategy.

The budget analysis for 2021 FY is shown in the table below.
No Details Budget Approved [Total] Total [Le] 5,000,000,000 Actual budget Allocated [Q1 to Q3] 4,889,489,836 Actual disbursement received [Q1, Q2 & Q3] 3,769,489,836 Donation/Grants Received Other Sources of Revenue 289,204,000 15,000,000 Key Findings From the review of the filled questionnaire, the Committee observed the following: ▪ For the period under review, the Board has received 75.4 % of the budget approved by this House as at 30th September, 2021; ▪ recurrent expenditures incurred on repairs and maintenance, fuel local and overseas travelling amounted Le 4.044 billion; 25 ▪ The Board has eighteen [18] Legal Aid Counsel Staff, which is below the minimum number of lawyers needed by the Board.
Again, the Board has a total of 52 Paralegals, which is below the minimum number needed; ▪ salaries and allowances of Legal Aid Counsel staff are minimal compared to their counterparts at the Law Officers Department; and ▪ The Board has only one new and two old vehicles for its operations.

For 2022 FY, the Board submitted a budget of Le 11.08 billion to the Ministry of Finance, but was allocated Le 7.5 billion.
RECOMENDATION The Committee noted the important role of the Board in assisting vulnerable people and thus recommends the approval of Le 7.5 billion.

VOTE-11017, PUBLIC SECTOR REFORM UNIT [PSRU] Mr Chairman, Honorable Members, the PSRU is charged with the responsibility to provide leadership, co-ordination and strategic guidance in the design, implementation and monitoring of Public Sector Reform Programmes.
Therefore, the PSRU’s vision is a Public Service that works for all, in support of national development, and a mission to create a lean, performance-oriented, highly motivated, modern and efficient Public Service that delivers high quality services to the people of Sierra Leone in a timely and cost-effective manner.
It ensures great collaboration and communication with key reform ‘Champions’, including the Secretary to the President, the Public Service Commission, HRMO, MoF, Cabinet Secretariat, Office of the Chief Minister, ACC, Audit Service Sierra Leone etcetera.

The Unit also looks into the Pay Reform-reviewing of staffing in sub-vented Agencies, improvement in systems, processes and tools for improved service delivery and capacity building.
In 2021 FY, the Unit’s key deliverables include administrative cost, management and functional review, proposed Wages and Salaries Compensation Commission, capacity building and coordination of activities.
The budget analysis for the Unit’s 2021 FY is shown in the table below: 26 No Details Budget Approved [Total] Actual budget Allocated [Q1 to Q3] Total [Le] 2,496,640,000 2,253,940,000 Actual disbursement received [Q1, Q2 & Q3] 2,253,940,000 Donation / Grants Received Other Sources of Revenue 21,600,000 Key Findings The Committee observed the following: ▪ Total recurrent expenditures include repairs and maintenance, fuel, local and overseas travels amounted Le 2.1 billion; ▪ Closing bank balance as at 30th September, 2021 is Le 170 million; ▪ Lack of enabling legislative framework to fully deliver on PRSU’s mandate and its effort to realign its supervisory and monitoring mechanism from Cabinet Secretariat to the Office of the President is yet to yield dividend; and ▪ Old vehicles leading to high maintenance cost and no training for staff for the past three years.
For 2022 FY, the PSRU submitted a budget of Le 4.5 billion, but was allocated the sum of Le 1.6 billion.

RECOMENDATION The Committee noted the important role of the PSRU in providing leadership, coordinating strategic guidance in designing and monitoring Public Sector Reform initiatives and therefore recommends that the Unit’s proposed allocation of Le 1.6 billion be approved.
The Committee also recommends that the Unit’s seeks approval for legal status through an Act of Parliament to fully realign its Leadership Position.

27 VOTE-40305, NATIONAL MINERALS AGENCY [NMA] Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, the National Minerals Agency was created by an Act of Parliament in 2012.
The NMA is an Agency of the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources charged with the responsibility among other things, to promote the development of the entire minerals sector, pursuant to Part III, Section 11 [1] of the National Minerals Act, 2012.

The Agency is performing this function, among others, taking into consideration its vision to ensure that Sierra Leoneans acquire maximum benefits from the country’s rich mineral deposits.
It is also very strategic in regulating mining operations for sustainable mining in the Country.

The Committee critically examined the Agency' revenue status with special reference to its regulatory role within the Ministry of Mines & Mineral Resources Industry.
The Agency’s revenue sources according the Vote Controller include GoSL subvention, Directorate of Precious Minerals Trading [diamond and gold export], Directorate of Mines- Artisanal Mining fees, application fees, blasting fees, Mine monitoring fees, penalties for non-compliance, Directorate of geological survey, other charges etc.
In 2021 FY, key deliverables of the NMA include administrative cost of the following directorates: Finance and Administration, Mines, Geological Surveys, Precious Minerals Trading, Communications and Community Affairs, and the Directorate of Technology and Information Management.
Actual expenditures on these deliverables amounted to Le 12,330,326,891 Budget Analysis for the Financial Year 2021 No Details Total [Le] 1 2 3 Budget Approved [Total] 2,059,458,700 Actual budget Allocated [Q1 to Q3] 2,000,000,000 Actual Budget Received [Q1 to Q3] No Disbursement 28 Key Findings The Committee noted from the review of the filled questionnaire the following: ▪ NMA was allocated Le 2.0 billion, but did not receive anything from the Government as at 30th September, 2021; ▪ The Agency’s revenue target was Le 22.4 billion, but the actual revenue collected was Le 17.5 billion; ▪ Of total revenue collected, the Finance Act of 2017 provides that the NMA retains 10% of total monitoring fees for their operations; ▪ Capital expenditure for the construction and supervision of one storey building amounted to Le 340 million; ▪ Recurrent expenditures on repairs and maintenance, fuel, local and overseas travels, subscription to professional bodies, training and utility services amounted to Le 12.3 billion.
For 2022 FY, the Agency’s budget analysis is shown in the table below Details Total [Le] No 1 2 3 Budget Ceilings Advised by MoF 2,182,830,250.00 Original Budget Submission 2,182,830,250.00 Budget to be Approved by Parliament 2,182,820,300.00 RECOMENDATION The Committee viewed the Agency’s proposed allocation as adequate and therefore recommends for its approval.

VOTE-42300, SIERRA LEONE PETROLEUM REGULATORY AGENCY [SLPRA] Mr Chairman, Hon.
Members, the Petroleum Regulatory Agency was established by an Act of Parliament in 2014,to license and regulate the efficient importation, storage, transportation, distribution of petroleum products and to ensure that petroleum 29 products are constantly available to customers at affordable prices.

The PRA is a revenue generating Agency that pays money into the Treasury single Account [TSA] as provided in the Fiscal Management and Control of 2017.
In 2021 FY, the Agency’s key deliverables include operational cost and subscription to PLATT & P, which is an International World Market organization that determines oil prices on daily basis.

The Agency’s budget analysis for 2021 FY is shown in the table below: No.
Details Total [Le] 1 2 3 Budget Approved [Total] 12,967,538,300.00 Actual budget Allocated [Q1 to Q3] 18,404,263,003.13 Actual Budget Received [Q1 to Q3] 18,404,263,003.13 Key Findings The Committee observed the following: ▪ out of a revenue target of Le 18.6 billion, actual revenue collected and transferred to the TSA was Le 19.4 billion; ▪ Of total petroleum revenue collected, the PRA retains only 1.5% for its administrative and operational costs; ▪ recurrent expenditures on repairs and maintenance, fuel local and overseas travelling amounted Le 18.1 billion; and ▪ Key challenges include high rental cost of office building, no refinery, inadequate storage tanks, and no government participation in the fuel distribution chain.
The Agency’s budget analysis is shown in the table below: No Details Total [Le] 1 Budget Ceilings Advised by MoF 12,369,800.000.00 30 2 3 Budget Submissions 12,526,709,196.00 Budget to be Approved by Parliament 12,369,848400.00 RECOMENDATION The Committee was satisfied with the overall activities and performance of the Agency and therefore recommends the approval of its proposed allocation.
VOTE-11013, SIERRA LEONE INSURANCE COMMISSION Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, the Sierra Leone Insurance Commission mission is to ensure effective administration, supervision, regulation and monitoring of the business of insurance in Sierra Leone.

The vision to lead Sierra Leone insurance industry to the stage where it is largely self-regulatory, has developed within itself the forces for its growth and prosperity, and operate independently.
For 2021 FY, key deliverables of the Sierra Leone Insurance Commission [SLICOM] are to secure funding for general and administrative cost of operations budgeted at Le 1 billion.
The budget analysis for 2021 FY is shown in the table below: No Details Total [Le] 1 2 3 Budget Approved [Total] 1,000,000,000 Actual budget Allocated [Q1 to Q3] 473,300,000 Actual Budget Received [Q1 to Q3] 473,300,000 Key Findings The Committee noted the following findings: 31 ▪ The Commission received only 47.33% of total amount approved by Parliament as at 30th September, 2021; ▪ Out of revenue target of Le 1.87 billion, actual revenue collected and transferred to the CRF as at 30th September,2021 amounted Le 655 million; ▪ The Commission also received a total of Le 397 million from the sales of application forms and stickers; and ▪ Recurrent expenditures was Le 822.65 million.
For 2022 FY, the Sierra Leone Insurance Commission has the following key deliverables: 1.

The Digitization of the Insurance Sector; 2. ensure Risk Based Insurance Supervision; and 3.

Training for knowledge in applying the International Financial Reporting Standards [IFRS 17 & 19] and training for tactful insurance.
The Agency’s 2022 budget analysis is shown in the table below: No Details Total [ Le] 1 2 3 Budget Ceilings Advised by MoF 1,159,900,000 Budget Submissions 3,382,500,000 Budget to be Approved by Parliament 1,700,900,000 RECOMENDATION The Committee viewed the proposed allocation as adequate and therefore recommends its approval.
VOTE-41800, SIERRA LEONE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, in order to strengthen the role of agricultural research, the Government established the Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute [SLARI] through an Act of Parliament in 2007 as the country’s agricultural technology generating body for the benefit of farming, fishing and forestry sectors.
The Institute’s 32 objective is to enhance sustainable productivity, commercialisation and competitiveness of the Agricultural sector.

According to the SLARI Act, the Institute is supposed to establish seven research centres but currently has established the following six canters: i. ii.

iii.

iv.

v. vi.
iii.

iv.

v. vi.

Njala Agricultural Research Center [NARC]; Rokupr Agricultural Research Center [RARC]; Kabala Horticultural Crops Research Center [KHCRC]; Teko Livestock Research Center [TLRC]; Magbosi Land and Water Research Center [MLWRC]; and Kenema Forestry and Tree Crops Research Center [KFTCRC].

In 2021 FY, the Institute’s key deliverables include admin.
cost, ensuring sustainable availability of rice seed to farmers, reduce yield gap in farmers’ fields, ensure technologies along rice and cassava value chain and to research on production of large scale onions.
The budget analysis for 2021 FY is shown in the table below: No Details Total [Le] 1 2 3 4 Budget Approved [Total] 3,700,000,000 Actual budget Allocated [Q1 to Q3] 985,000,000 Actual Budget disbursement [Q1 to Q3] 1,565,500,000 Donations / Grants Received 3,050,392,585 Key Findings The following are the Committee’s key findings: ▪ The recurrent was Le 1.5 billon and Le 3.0 billion from donor Partners funding; ▪ An ongoing strike of workers at Rokupur Rice Station; ▪ Poor conditions of service, especially Masters and PhD holders; 33 ▪ High attrition rate by seasoned scientists to seek greener pasture; and ▪ Lack of laboratories, storage facilities, human resource capacity gap, etc.
RECOMMENDATION The Committee observed that SLARI is becoming a defunct institution and therefore recommends for increase in allocation and timely release of funds since agricultural activities are time bound.

CONCLUSION Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, pursuant to Section 111 Sub-section [3]1 and S.Os.
66[1&2], the Committee unanimously recommends that the entire budget Heads, including the Sub-Heads listed below, stand part of the schedule and that the recommendations contained therein be approved: MDAs ACCOUNTS HEADS [INCLUDING SUB-HEADS] FOR 2022 Vote Div.
Vote Description Total Sum Voted [Le] 424 00 S/Leone Petroleum Directorate [SLPD] 7,264,494,800 401 00 Ministry of Agriculture & Food Security 34,529,058,900 410 00 National Protected Area Authority [NPAA] 3,261,474,300 318 00 Ministry of Environment 3,837,496,900 124 01 Office of Administration & Registrar General 4,245,069,000 [OARG] 408 00 Ministry of Works and Public Assets 12,664,264,400 701 06 Kono District Council 3,877,881,359 701 08 Bombali Dist.

Council 4,829,489,051 124 07 Legal Aid Board.


7,500,000,000 110 17 Public Sector Reform Unit [PSRU] 1,600,000,000 34 403 05 National Mineral Agency [NMA] 2,182,820,300 423 00 S/L Petroleum Regulatory Agency [SLPRA] 12,369,848,400 110 13 Sierra Leone Insurance Comm.

[SLICOM] 1,700,900,000 418 00 Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Inst.
3,700,000,000 Production of petroleum, to act on behalf of the State in petroleum agreements and to regulate the petroleum industry in Sierra Leone.” The Petroleum Directorate is revenue generating MDA and thus generated the sums of Le 252,472,547 and Le 647,655,680 as against revenue targets of Le 104bln and Le 88bln in 2019 and 2020 respectively.
Reasons for the drastic fall in revenue generation was largely due to the suspension of the fourth licensing round for further industry consultation and collaboration, the COVID-19 Pandemic and the low prices oil products.

THE CHAIRMAN: Thank you Honourable Member.

We shall now turn to Committee [7] [The Chairman group seven [7] reads the Report].

HON.
HON.

AMADU KANU [Chairman, Committee Group 7]: Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, I present to you the report of the Fourth Session of the Fifth Parliament of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone.

The report of the Appropriation Sub Committee group 7, on the current and development of estimate for 2022.
Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, in pursuant to section 112, sub section [6] of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone, Act 6 of 1991 and Standing Orders 64 subsection 3 and 66 subsection 1 of the revise standing Orders of the Sierra Leone Parliament.
I wish on my behalf and on behalf the Honourable Members of my Committee to report on the Appropriation of sub Committee 7 on the budget scrutiny of the recurrent and development expenditure estimate of the Ministries Departments and Agencies under consideration for financial year 2022.

35 Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, the composition of the Committee as stated.

Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, we have supporting staff under this Committee as stated.
Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, consistent with what has been said by the Minister on the votes division, totals and Vote Heads and corresponding estimates, I refer you to the table under review.

Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, I go to the objectives.

Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, the Committee work was predicated on the following key objectives among others.

I.
I.

To ensure accountability by vote controllers for all money received during the course of the financial year including Government regular budget, and other sources of support.

II.

To create a platform where by vote controllers will provide justification for the proposal to meaningfully utilise their 2022, proposed budget allocations taking into consideration their approved deliverables.

III.
III.

To access and ascertain whether the budget submissions of the MDAs are realistic in nature and reflective of Government development aspirations.

IV.

To enhance the culture of transparency and accountability in the management of public funds, votes controls.

Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, let me take you through our general findings.

Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, below were the Committees general findings during the course of scrutiny of the MDAs that were under our purview.

[i].
[i].

That disbursement of allocations to MDAs by the Ministry of Finance was not done in a timely version and that disbursement were grossly inadequate to enable them effectively implement their approve deliverables.

[ii].

As stated, [iii].

As Stated.

36 Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, I take you through the specific observations of the vote heads.
VOTE-10700, THE MINISTRY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT, AS STATED RECOMMENDATION Following close review of the expenditure, the Committee consider the fiscal year 2022 proposed allocation to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development as adequate and recommend the approval by the House.
VOTE-10704, NORTHERN PROVINCE MAKENI, AS STATED RECOMMENDATION Having duly received the budget analysis to the Office under consideration, the Committee considers proposed allocations for 2022 to be appropriate and recommend it approval by the House.

VOTE-10800, THE SIERRA LEONE SMALL ARMS COMMISSION, AS STATED RECOMMENDATION Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, the fiscal year 2022, the Commission submitted a budget of the figure stated and we recommend Mr Chairman, I take you to the recommendation.
Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, whiles recommending for the proposed 2022 allocation to the Commission for the Committee to further recommends that this institution be considered for a Supplementary budget during the course of the financial year taking into account the proposed deliverable and operational needs.

The Committee wish further recommends that attention be given to the challenges highlighted above to save the Commission from being of collapse.
VOTE-112.03, THE SIERRA LEONE EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRY TRANSPARENCY INITIATIVE, AS STATED.

RECOMMENDATION 37 To achieve increase efficiency in the sector, the Committee is encouraging the relevant stakeholders to consider the possibility of development, the legal frame work that will give the institution the legal status to perform its functions in a more effective manner.
VOTE-11200, HUMAN RESOLVE MANAGEMENT, AS STATED Mindful of the above, the Committee recommends the office be considered for a supplementary during the course of the fiscal year 2022.

VOTE-21100, IMMIGRATION, AS STATED RECOMMENDATION The Committee therefore recommends the approval of the proposed 2022 budgetary allocation to the department.
However giving the broad deliverables outline with the department board the fiscal year 2022 the Committee further recommends that the institution be considered for a supplementary budget to enable it need with operational and other related expenditure.
VOTE-30100, THE MINISTRY OF BASIC AND SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL EDUCATION, AS STATED RECOMMENDATION To achieve the above among others, the Ministry submitted an original for debt to the tune of 57,496Bln but following it review by the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry was given a proposed allocation of 31,229.436Bln subject to the approval by Parliament the Committee used the proposed allocation as at appropriate and recommend it approval.
VOTE-31500, TEACHING HOSPITAL COMPLEX ADMINISTRATION, AS STATED RECOMMENDATION Considering the fragile nature of the country health system which was largely exposed by a number of outreach couple with the role which the hospital plays in addressing the huge medical and health challenges in the country, the Committee viewed the 2022, 38 proposed allocation to the Teaching Hospital and as adequate and recommends that the institution be consider for a supplementary budget during the course of the financial year.
VOTE-41300, SIERRA LEONE ELECTRICITY WATER REGULATORY COMMISSION, AS STATED RECOMMENDATION The Committee considered the 2022 proposed allocation to the Commission as adequate and recommend it approval.
VOTE-41700, NUCLEAR SAFETY AND RADIATION PROTECTION AUTHORITY, AS STATED RECOMMENDATION Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, for the fiscal year 2022 the authority submitted a budget of 3,500Bln to the Ministry of Finance and it got an allocation of 3Bln from the Government regular budget for both the current and development estimate.

Compared to their allocation for 2021 fiscal year, the Committee viewed the 2022 proposed allocation to the authority as adequate and recommend it approval.
For effective service delivery, the Committee recommends that the authority used with powers to monitor mobile base stations, must take all necessary actions aim at monitoring food and other consumables for radioactive contamination.

Should collaborate with the Parliamentary Committee on environment for actions to be taken against those in violation of it defaulters and uses the limited budget to see how best it can be able to calibrate all radiation detection and monitoring.
VOTE-42600, THE SIERRA LEONE SEED CERTIFICATION AGENCY, AS STATED RECOMMENDATION The Committee is certified with the proposed allocation to the agency for the financial year 2022 and recommends it approval by the House.

VOTE-42800, THE NATIONAL INVESTMENT BOARD, AS STATED 39 RECOMMENDATION The Committee therefore recommends that the budget allocated to the tune of 841, 428.00 to the Sierra Leone Investment Board be approved by this House it was stated as an error, please correct that Honourable Members.
THE CHAIRMAN: Sorry!

Sorry!

HON.

AMADU KANU: I take you back for the recommendation for the national Investment Board, instead of health, it must now read approved by the House.

Moving forward.

VOTE -70501, KOIDU NEW SEMBEHUN CITY COUNCIL, AS STATED RECOMMENDATION Against this background the Committee recommends the approval of the proposed 2022 budget allocation to the Koidu New Sembehun City Council.

The background I am referring to here is the corresponding last paragraph under Koidu New Sembehun.
VOTE-70101, TONKOLILI DISTRICT, AS STATED RECOMMENDATION Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, the Committee considers the 2022 proposed budget allocation to the council as reasonable and therefore recommends it approval by the House.
CONCLUSION Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, I wish at this juncture to most graciously recognise the invaluable contributions of Honourable Members and staff of my Committee for the meaningful and support throughout the various hearings held with MDAs that were assigned to the Committee.

I therefore on behalf of myself and Honourable Members for my Committee hereby recommend that the report of the Appropriations subcommittee of Group 7 be adopted.
The budget heads including Sub-heads of MDAs and Local Councils listed below in respect of budgetary provisions for the financial year 2022, stand part of the Bill thank you very much [Applause].

40 THE CHAIRMAN: I thank the Honourable for his rendition of this Report.
Honourable Members, you are at Liberty now to make your contributions to the two Reports bearing in mind the provisions of S.O 66 [4] by way of reminder, you must confide your contributions to the policy of the service for which monies are to be appropriated.

And you are not allowed by the S.Os to deal with any other details or any other Sub-heads outside of the ones mentioned by the Minister.

You have the Floor.

HON.

DR ABDULAI D. SESAY: Thank you, Mr Chairman.


My keen attention is on the Seeds Certification Agency, vote head 24600.

Mr Chairman, we are struggling so much to import food and this country have so much arable lands that we should be able to feed ourselves.

But unfortunately, this is not possible.

One of the major problems, is the fact that we do not have quality seeds.
I am saying this because a year ago I received seeds from the Ministry of Agriculture, and these seeds did not germinate at all, and that was very sad.

Last year… THE CHAIRMAN: Hold done.

Do we have a representative from the Ministry?

Would you rise so we can see you please.

Who is the most senior amongst you, what is your position in the Ministry?

Ooh good, I think we have the appropriate person here.

HON.

DR ABDULAI D. SESAY: Thank you, Mr Chairman.

THE CHAIRMAN: And I hope you are taking notes?


HON.

DR ABDULAI D. SESAY: Last year the past planting season, I bought rice from an Agency that is accredited, I was told this is 100% rock [3], because I wanted to cultivate rice [3], and I cultivated the rice.

Mr Chairman, to your surprise by the time this rice was maturing, we have over [6] different types of varieties.

And that has caused a big loss, because this rice came up at different period, so there is no way you would have a better yield.
THE CHAIRMAN: So what did you get, instead of rock [3]?

HON.

DR ABDULAI D. SESAY: There was 3 months variety, and there were so many verities.

Mr Chairman, it is heart rendering, because we are working very hard to see that we bring food to security to this country.

We are required to go back to our 41 Constituencies and work with our people and ensure that we actualise the dreams of the President for food substantiality.

But if we cannot have proper seed rice to do our farming, then it is a big loss.
Mr Chairman, I went through the Report on the seed certification agency, I want to say they need to do more to ensure that seeds are been sold to us the private farmers, to ensure that these seeds are of high quality.

Because, when you buy seed rice you put it on the ground and it doesn’t germinate or you get rice that is contaminated, it is a big loss.
So therefore, I want to plead Mr Chairman, that you engage the people responsible to ensure that we get quality seeds, because there is no way we can feed this country and cut down on the importation of rice, if we do not have a better system put in place to provide farmers with quality seed rice.

THE CHAIRMAN: There can be no greater indictment than this, it is good that the Head of seed agency is here to listen, because there can be no greater indictment in my option.

HON.
HON.

DR ABDULAI D. SESAY: We have a responsibility as a nation to ensure that… THE CHAIRMAN: I am sure your case is not an exemption, for all you know there maybe thousands of others who do not have the privilege to stand in this House and say what you are saying.

HON.

DR ABDULAI D. SESAY: You are quite right Mr Chairman, and that is the reason why I want to say this in this House, that Government does not waste money on institutions that are not doing what they are supposed to do.
And if they don’t know, I think it is high time people knew that some of us here are farmers, and the right things need to be done for us to ensure that food sustainability is achieved in this country.
Mr Chairman, if I look at the Ministry of Agriculture, I want to say a lot need to be done, because so many millions are spent every year in the Agriculture sector and all the Associate Commissions, but yet still, our productivity in terms of rice which is our staple food is still a big challenge in this country.

We are wasting so many millions every year to import rice from China, from India, from Geneva, when we have valuable lands in this country.
Mr Chairman, what are we doing as a nation is to change this trajectory to ensure that year in year out we don’t continue spending money in these Ministries 42 without achieving much.

I don’t want to take all your time Mr Chairman, but these are just few things I want to highlight because we are limited and constrain with time, but these issues need to be looked into more seriously and you cannot give rice to your farmers in September or in August, it is a waste of money.
Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, if you are supplying rice for farmers or fertilizers, we should know exactly when it is planting season, and when to plant the rice.

I am not an Agriculturist, but I know that by February to March, we should start brushing.

In the first week in May, I should put my rice in my both land and if rice only comes in September or fertilizer comes in by the end of the year is a waste of Government resources, this must change [Applause].
So I want to thank you Mr Chairman, but these are issues that need to be looked into very seriously, because there is no way we can change this scenario of been dependent on overseas for rice supply, which is our staple food, if this issue is not addressed particularly when we have arable lands.

Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, we have so many Technocrats, we have so many PHDs and BSCs and Maters in Agriculture, and yet we cannot change the scenario in our food situation in the country.
I thank you, Mr Chairman [Applause].

THE CHAIRMAN: I should be thanking you Honourable Member, instead of the other way round, it is a very, very important matter, do take your seat.

I am rather surprise looking at the Report, the Committee recommended on page 14 of the report, that the Committee says it is satisfied with the proposed allocation to the Agency for the year, 2022.

I recommended for approval to the House and I think we can do more than this.
I want to direct here and now that, that matter be investigated by the Agriculture Committee [Applause].

The matters must be investigated by the Agriculture Committee, the Report should be tendered to this House without delay.

Who is the Chairman of the Agriculture Committee?

I want this recorded please, it is so decided.

HON.

HASSAN A. SESAY: Mr Chairman, it is interesting and something very important to us when we always talk about allocating resources to Agriculture.
Mr 43 Chairman, every year we talked about our desire to create a situation where we will be able to feed ourselves.

It has been highlighted by the Chairman of the Committee that the resources given to this sector, the budget must be approve.

Even where they needed more we have done it.

But Mr Chairman, we always know that when it comes to agricultural activities you know better, because you are also a farmer.
This issues are time bound, and for very long time there has been delay in the supply of these items as mentioned by my colleague from Gbokeleke.

Mr Chairman, it is always something that has a negative effect on the whole cycle of agricultural productivity.

But Mr Chairman, let me make one issue here.

I remembered talking about agricultural productivity here and we suggested the third parties in the importation of fertilizes must be removed.
Mr Chairman, let me draw an example in Nigeria, there was a time when the Federal Government sat down to determine how to increase productivity and eliminate delay in the supply of fertilizers and other agricultural items to farmers.

What did they do?
What did they do?

They removed the third party involvement and created a situation whereby the Ministry and the Local Authorities create a link where by the importer of the fertilizers send direct to the Local areas and then create a virtual system, where they will give them a chit to go and collect their fertilizers at local levels, so the third party involvement that will only increase the price and bring about delay in the supply of these items was resolved.
Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, if we do that we will reduce the bureaucracy and bottle necks in the supply of these items, it will reduce the burden.

If we keep doing the same thing year in year out with the same result Mr Chairman, consider how much money we spend on the importation of rice alone.

Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, if we can cut it down by 50%, by increasing productivity, a lot will be available to advocate for other social services in the country.
THE CHAIRMAN: Hold on THE CHAIRMAN: You may continue.

Suspension of S.O 5 [2].

44 HON.

HASSAN A. SESAY: Mr Chairman, my consideration is, let us try collectively to put an end to this endless cycle of wasting resources in the name of spending it on Agriculture.

Mr Chairman, the Ministry of Agriculture are always on workshops, seminars, engaged in retreat here and there that is not productive.
Mr Chairman, you and I know that if we talk about productivity, we are talking about putting rice on the ground, at the right time, providing the necessary equipment.

Mr Chairman, they are talking about mechanised farming, go to the districts, the elements of bureaucracy involved in getting these machines to the people who need them is too much.

Sometimes by the time you finish, the energy is gone.
Mr Chairman, let us try a sustainable means of providing food for our people, so that we don’t spend too much on importing rice.

If we import more rice we are only empowering another economy and reducing our capacity.

Mr Chairman, when we talk about Agriculture, we talk about rice, talk about poultry, etc.

Let us try to fund these areas, because look at the money given to importers who import chickens, who told you we need foreign chickens?

What do we have to do with it?


We can produce as much as we can in this country if only it is done in a very constructive manner.

Mr Chairman, I am not condemning anybody, but I think we have to put more robust measures in place to ensure that this country produces more.
Let us end this cycle once and for all and I think as a Parliament we can insist on this, get all those involve, and put together a more robust approach to these activities so that they will benefit this country, not only me, not only you, not only the Deputy Leader of Government Business, but all of us as a nation.

Mr Chairman, we have been going through this, and it keeps continuing every year.
It goes round and round and yet we do not achieved much out of it, but this time round that we have had the budget no one is condemning the budget, yet we can approve it.

Again, let us remember that the amount of money we are allocating into Agriculture is small, but if the one that is been allocated is not properly utilised, how do we increase that budget?

We want to do it, but we must be seeing results.


If you check the number of seminars, and workshops they hold for the year, if we quantify that amount of money, a farmer will be rich with just that money.

45 Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, I remember visiting an Agricultural activity in Benin and Songhai.

When you go to their Agricultural institutions, you will see what productive agriculture is.
In Benin, they package their pineapples and market them, and is not that they can do it better than us; but because we don’t pay the kind of attention we need to pay to it, because people care only for what comes from Government.

Mr Chairman, I am not saying this for people to feel offended, but to learn to respect what is Government property.
Mr Chairman, with due respect to everyone, give a driver a government vehicle and give a driver a private vehicle and see the attitude they put to maintain both vehicles, that will tell you how much regards we have for government property in this country.

Mr Chairman, until we start to respect government property or government resources, and believe that it belongs to all of us and that your private property belongs to you.
Let us start respecting that, and until and on less that is done, we will always be rounding and rounding the cycle.

Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, my advice or suggestion here is, for us to pay more attention to resources put into Agriculture.

Let us try to feed the population and cut down the money we use to import rice by 50%.

Mr Chairman, I am sure it will be a whole lot better than we are now.

Thank you, very much.

THE CHAIRMAN: I thank the Honourable Member for his contribution.
Honourable Member, are you a farmer like me?

You have the floor.

HON.

JOSEPH WILLIAMS-LAMIN: Thank you very much, Mr Chairman.

I can answer your question.

THE CHAIRMAN: Between the two of you, one is a Reverend and the other is a Miner [Laughter].

HON.

JOSEPH WILLIAMS-LAMIN: Thank you very much, Mr Chairman.

Mr Chairman, to answer your first question, last year I made over 75 acres of land, I do not eat imported rice.
I don’t even know how much a bag of rice costs in Sierra Leone, I eat my own rice I produce.

THE CHAIRMAN: That is very good 46 HON.

JOSEPH WILLIAMS-LAMIN: Thank you, Mr Chairman.

Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, I want to queue the line of my colleague speakers to say the truth, nothing but the truth.
When the Ministry of Agriculture appeared before us, they could not answer any question, we have to step them down to go back and come back later, because there was no Authority to speak to the documents they came with.

When you look at one person, the person will look at the other person, so we had to call them to go and prepare themselves and come back.

The Deputy Chairman could attest to that and I also asked repeatedly, why are there only men seated in this place, there is no woman among you?
It is a typical example you could see today again as you see them seated there.

It is only men appearing before us, and this is very serious.

It is serious in a sense that we are talking about huge sums of money allocated to them.

Mr Chairman, as a flagship program we expected more from them to deliver the service to this nation.
I know I want to rescue them, I want to save them, but I am also speaking as somebody who has subscribed to the oath of office on the 25th of April, 2018, and that will lead to my generation to come.

So I have to say nothing, but the truth, and I believe also that all my colleagues will do the same in this particular findings.

Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, please allow me to say the truth that I witnessed in that particular findings, because when you do something, there will be a spill over effect.
Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, if you go to the Gambia Banjul, the Ministry of Agriculture is not in the Sky-scraper buildings.

Their Headquarters is outside Banjul, where they demonstrate farm activities.

But if you put the Ministry of Agriculture at Youyi building, imagine how long it takes them to go to even Hastings.

It is a very difficult thing for them to do, because looking at the proximity between them and the agricultural centres is so far that the service delivery will be difficult.
Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, we did all we could and then you said why we allowed them to approved that budget, because they came back with the correct document and we have to look at it and therefore approved the vote.

47 Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, we are talking about devastating issues in this Well, but let me tell you about Vote 41000, National Protected Area Authority.
Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, in this particular authority, you have eloquent men and women, when they appeared before us to present their documents, and when they presented their documents, I want to recognise one particular individual, a very young person who was very eloquent and was on top of the situation, Madam Bintu Kamara, who has worked in that particular authority for seven years [Applause].
She was so versatile in presenting the documents, but when you have a person appearing before you strumming, ‘ehhh, emelll’, when the flow of activities is not there, it is a very sad thing.
Mr Chairman, we are facing a devastating situation in Sierra Leone, as you witnessed today in December, the pouring of rain, it is not only here, when I went to my Constituency to talk to my people about the Mid-term census, it was raining heavenly there, meaning that this particular authority is been challenged by people confronting them, there is a conflict of interest.

People are building places even in our water protected areas like Guma Valley, it is a dead horse coming.
Mr Chairman, if you go to Guma Valley Water Company, our Natural reserved water is devastated by people who have the desire to build 5, 6, 7, 8 houses in Sierra Leone.

It is only in Sierra Leone I have seen that people was tell, you that I have built three houses and I am building the 4th or 5th house, because they have no other way of investing, it is only houses and houses.

Mr Chairman, we have to bear in mind that, there are natural disasters that has happened in this country.
So if you put all our eggs into one basket, it will be a disaster.

Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, it is a very sad situation and we have to say the truth, nothing but the truth.

We were also involved in finding about institutions that are slowly dying, like the Rokupur Agricultural Research Centre.

The people that appeared before us said, people are vandalising the Research Centre and I do not know whether the project was sensitised enough to understand that the local people own the project.
But in that case if for some reasons there is a protest and you go to the extent of 48 removing and savaging property that belong to the state, it is a very sad one.

We hope that the needful will be done so that this institution will be saved.

On that note Mr Chairman, I want to ask colleague Honourable Members that as we have said the truth, nothing but the truth, as we say in the United Kingdom, ‘Allow to pass’.
It is not a distinction, it is not very good, but there is no way to do, but just allow to pass.

Thank you, very much.

HON.

BASHIRU SILIKIE: Mr Chairman, for Members of the Committee, we expect that when reports are laid here, it should be a unanimous agreement of the Committee.

It is disheartening to see Members of the Committee hand picking documents that were not inputted in the Report.
So I advise because we expect that when these reports are presented, Members who were not part of these Committees should be able to look into the report and critic them.

But if you are going to critic a document that you were part of, it should have been factored into the report, so we keep it as a document of Parliament.
So I advise all other Members of Parliament who are Members of Committees, that when you are part of the Report and it is been read by the Chairman, we don’t expect you to come and critic that Report especially, when the critic you are doing is not factored in the Report.

We will be going back and forth because the issues they are bringing are not part of the Report, and you were in the Committee Sittings were decisions where reached by the entire Committee, which has been brought to this Parliament.
THE CHAIRMAN: Let us take note of what you have said, but to my mind, I think what have been underlined here is that the Agriculture Committee particularly has a lot more Oversight work to do.

There is a lot more to be done by that Committee that is what has come out very clearly.

HON.

DR KANDEH K. YUMKELLA: Thank you, Mr Chairman.

Mr Chairman, that is exactly the point for the reasons that previous speaker just highlighted.
Mr Chairman, I really want to recommend strongly that begin next year, we devote quality time to look at Agriculture.

This Government and the donors spent a lot of money over the last ten years supporting us in Agriculture.

Let us look at if you take our project for Tormabom 49 and Kambia, you are looking at almost $35-40 Mln just for rice, and there is another initiative also in Port-Loko.

We need to take a closer look at what is happening in our Agriculture sector.
In the budget debate we realised that infact, the share of Agriculture in the total budget has dropped significantly at the time.

Mr Chairman, maybe it is because more donor money is coming in, we don’t know.

But there are issues around Agriculture we don’t know as Honourable Members.

Mr Chairman, every Member of Parliament here knows some of the difficulties we are having with input supply, there is a major reform but in the reform word like the private sector guides the delivery.
Some of the Tractors I have seen, ‘Nor good for purpose’ S.O [2], there issues.

The fertilizer delivery is not working and now as we say we are getting rain which already implies there is something wrong also in terms of our production seasons which could mean big problems next year in the future.

So I want to recommend separately that we help the Oversight Committee, because almost 80% of us here are farming one way or the other and we have an interest in our Constituency to make sure this works.
THE CHAIRMAN: I have made a ruling, I am just reinforcing that ruling again in light of the comments made.

Let me listen to my favourite Honourable Member from Bombali District.

HON.

DR MARK M. KALOKOH: Thank you, Mr Chairman.

THE CHAIRMAN: Do not worry there is boundary between Karene and Bombali.

HON.

DR MARK M. KALOKOH: Thank you very much, Mr Chairman.
Mr Chairman, I just want to take you to the top of that page 11 of group 7 Report, which is started from page 10, Teaching Hospitals Complex Administration.

Mr Chairman, I just want to draw your attention to a key word ‘Autonomy’.
Mr Chairman, the Teaching Hospital was established by an Act of Parliament since 2016, and from that time Mr Chairman, on to this point the Teaching Hospitals face the Committee for scrutiny, the Committee was informed that all there functions are been directed by the Ministry of Health.
50 Mr Chairman, when an institution is been established by an Act of Parliament, that institution has to be given the Mandate to run its own activities and I believe if the Ministry of Health is the supervisory Ministry that is responsible for that institution, it should not be given directives without given the institution its Autonomy.

I want to ask the Ministry through the Bar this time around to ensure that they relinquish the autonomy to the Teaching Hospital.
The Teaching Hospital consists of several other hospitals including the Connaught Hospital.

So for them to operate only on the directives of the Ministry of Health should not be the case, let it be seen operating on the context of the Act that establishes it, because there are certain specifications been indicated in the Act that establishes its functions.

So its functions must be carried by the Teaching Hospital, so that is the only thing I want to draw your attention to Mr Chairman, thank you very much.
Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, on the issue of Agriculture, I thank the Chairman for his anticipated action on the submission I have made.

Coming to the Agricultural aspect Mr Chairman, I want to ask the Ministry of Finance to ensure that there is a little bit relaxation on the issue of farming equipment been brought into this country by way of reducing the tax.

Some of these Agricultural implements should be given free concessions, ‘Duty free’.
Mr Chairman, but when you import an agricultural machinery into this country, the difficulty you will face at the Water Quay is clearing those property.

THE CHAIRMAN: No, hold on.

Let us be clear about this.

During my time as Agriculture Minister, agricultural implements entered the country duty free, has that been changed?

HON.

DR ABDULAI SESAY: Yes!

Mr Chairman, I paid for my Tractors, I paid for the combine harvester that I imported recently.

HON.
HON.

DR KANDEH K. YUMKELLA: My friend took three months to get the waiver, but he did not get the waiver and they were going to charge demurrage for his two Tractors.

51 THE CHAIRMAN: Honourable Members, this is another important issue that Parliament should consider, because for as long as I can remember even during my time as Agriculture Minister, agricultural implements, agricultural inputs were allowed into the country duty free.

HON.
HON.

DR ABDULAI SESAY: Mr Chairman, as I am telling you just in November, I was late because there was no combine harvester in Tonkolili.

I had to import one from china to get it from the Port, I had to pay because if I don’t pay immediately, I was going to lose all of my rice.

I brought in Tractors I had to pay and this should be a done deal.

THE CHAIRMAN: Ok, the Minister of Finance fortunately is here, and I am sure he is taking note.

HON.

DR MARK M. KALOKOH: Mr Chairman.

THE CHAIRMAN: Hold on.


This is a matter that the House will definitely want to hear him on this duty free for agriculture inputs.

How can we progress agriculture to what we want if the inputs are subject to duty?

Frankly, I am very surprise that duty has now been placed on agricultural inputs.

HON.

DR MARK M. KALOKOH: Thank you very much, Mr Chairman.

Mr Chairman, drawing a comparison from the time you were Agriculture Minister of this country is quite different as how things operate today.
Yesterday Ministers of Agriculture were thinking about elevating the poor communities, but today when you bring your Agricultural in this country tactfully they will delay the process, accruing demurrage, and if you do not pay what the policy says those equipment will not be cleared.

HON.

BASHIRU SILIKIE: Sorry, Mr Chairman.

That is a huge indictment on the Minister of Agriculture.
I think the issues of Tax waivers is to the Ministry of Finance and not the Ministry of Agriculture, these are issues we should take with the Ministry of Finance.

THE CHAIRMAN: No.

There should be a general policy on that.

52 HON.


BASHIRU SILIKIE: Mr Chairman, currently as it stands, I don’t know if it is a policy, but if you are paying taxation on the importation of agricultural machinery, we should take that with the Ministry of Finance, they should answer us because they are responsible for collecting Tax and not the Ministry of Agriculture.
The reason why I am raising this, is that the Honourable Member, the Chairman, is indicting the Ministry of Agriculture in terms of demurrage and Tax Waivers on agricultural machineries and others.

I just want to guide him, Mr Chairman.

THE CHAIRMAN: No, I think he is going beyond that and I am also involved in that.

HON.

BASHIRU SILIKIE: I know you are involved, so we will be engaging the Ministry of Finance to see how best we can grant duty waivers and Tax waivers.
THE CHAIRMAN: I think this is a question of general policy now, it did not affect one Ministry but I have addressed the matter to the Minister, let him investigate that one.

HON.

BASHIRU SILIKIE: Exactly, so the Honourable Member should be guided sir.

THE CHAIRMAN: Any other substantive issue on this, because we need to conclude.

HON.

DR MARK M. KALOKOH: Yes, I want to conclude Mr Chairman.

THE CHAIRMAN: No, I am just giving a warning now.


We have to conclude by 12:50 pm, and we will take lunch and then come back in the afternoon.

HON.

DR MARK M. KALOKOH: By way of clearing the air Deputy Leader of Government Business, I did not indict the Minister of Agriculture, rather I drew comparison on what obtained when our Speaker was Minister of Agriculture, but I never indicted him.
I am fully aware of the fact that Water Quay and Tax issues have been the responsibility of the Ministry of Finance.

What I am saying is that, because he wanted us to know whether the policy exists or not.

The Ministry wants us to pay, but when we flew in agricultural equipment, the bureaucracies allow you to go through a lot that can even delay the process until you pay for your equipment, it will not be cleared from the Quay.
Mr Chairman, when you look at Vote 401 Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the issue of food security is so key and touching every citizens’ life in this 53 country.

I am not a member of this Committee, but I want to say that 34 Billion allocation is not enough to take care of Agricultural and Food security issues in this country.

Mr Chairman, so I am submitting that there should be a consideration of supplementary budget if and only if we are ready to promote food sufficiency in this country.
THE CHAIRMAN: Honourable Member, is it not possible that consideration might have been given to the fact that commercial production was also factored into the whole budgetary process, because I do recalled Tormabom and Ribbi, the two which are very fertile areas for rice production are going to be utilised by Commercial Companies to produce rice.

So outside of that, that is why perhaps the allocation is what it is.

HON.

DR MARK M. KALOKOH: Noted, Mr Chairman.


Finally Mr Chairman, the Ministry of Agriculture should fully decentralise some of these Directors, because they have no business in the city, they should be with us in the Rural areas to be monitoring and apply practical involvement in growing food for this country.

I thank you, Mr Chairman [Applause].

THE CHAIRMAN: Thank you, Honourable Member for your contribution.
Let me take just two more please if you don’t mind, I know there are fertile areas in Kono, Kono is not just producing diamonds but let me listen to you.

HON.

ISHMAIL S. SANDY: Mr Chairman, I am not trying to be the devil’s advocate, but I think I have to make some interventions especially in the area of the Sierra Leone Seeds certification Agency.

I could recall it was sometimes first quarter last year in this Well, that this particular Agency came into been and they started operations last year.
Mr Chairman, it will interest you to know that this Agency we are depending on to take this huge responsibility is just having a simple vehicle and is expected to go right round this country to certify all the seeds, just imagine and the research station we are…[interruption] 54 THE CHAIRMAN: The logistical inadequacy does not justify what is been said, I am sorry.

The inadequacy of the logistics has nothing to do with the quality of the seeds that they supply.

HON.
HON.

ISHMAIL S. SANDY: I think you should have waited for me to conclude.

THE CHAIRMAN: But you said, you want to be the devil’s advocate.

HON.

ISHMAIL S. SANDY: They are working in collaboration with the Sierra Leone Research Centre [SLARI] and Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute.

Mr Chairman, I am telling you that if you go to [SLARI], there is nothing to write home about.

The laboratory in scraped, they have nothing authentic.

THE CHAIRMAN: Honourable Member.

HON.


ISHMAIL S. SANDY: Yes, Mr Chairman.

THE CHAIRMAN: Granted!

What you say is correct, but that does not justify the Seed Agency to certify seeds and give to farmers, seeds that don’t germinate, seeds that are contaminated, that is the point.

HON.

ISHMAIL S. SANDY: Yes.

I am not justifying that, but I think if you allow me complete, you will see some reasons sir.

THE CHAIRMAN: Go on.

HON.


ISHMAIL S. SANDY: Mr Chairman, I was doing some studies around Agriculture and it will interest you to note that even the allocation we are talking about to this Agency, has just been released in the last quarter.
Mr Chairman, just imagine allocations that were meant to be released in the farming season came last quarter and this Agency gave the responsibility to private contractors to do this supply and because of their inability to adequately monitor them because of the logistical inadequacies, they depend on them to just supply.

I think in as much as we are holding then accountable for the challenges, yet I think the arrow is pointing at the Ministry of Finance.
Mr Chairman, if allocations are made to the Ministry of Agriculture and the money is not 55 remitted to them, how will they operate?

I think if we are taking Agriculture serious, the Ministry of Finance should be doing the needful equally.

HON.

MOHAMED BANGURA: Mr Chairman, point of order.

THE CHAIRMAN: what is your point?

Then take your seat now.

HON.


MOHAMED BANGURA: The Honourable Member is still giving justifications, and I want him to know that, lack of logistics is still not a justification in the supply of raw materials.

Honourable Member is saying you should not be standing here, trying to defend the MDA, and that is what you are trying to do.

THE CHAIRMAN: Ok. HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Mr Chairman.

HON.

ISHMAIL S. SANDY: I am not equally defending them, but I am saying the right thing.

HON.
HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Mr Chairman.

THE CHAIRMAN: Yes.

HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Mr Chairman, I think we are not saying that there is any perfect justification or there is no perfect situation.

That is the reason we realised and established the Seed Multiplication or Seed Analysis Department.
Mr Chairman, if you can recall when I was giving my contribution, talking about the different bacterial that you need to have the particular soil structure for the soil analysis, we talked about the fixing of the soil.

If you have gone to Benin, there is a strong empire were you have different soil textures, and they are able to transplant different crops with different soil type in the same locality.
So if you don’t fix the actual bacterial we are talking about, the D-95 bacterial as the case maybe, even if you supply the correct seeds if you put it in the wrong soil, you will not get the better germination or better yield you are looking for, so it has to do with the proper analysis of the seed and soil and even the climate.

We were not expecting rain yesterday, but nearly half part of the day was raining in the western part of Freetown.

So SLARI has highlighted the issues.


56 Mr Chairman, all of the scientific structures we have in terms of Agricultural Research Centre are not performing well, and that is the fact.

We are talking about making rice in places like, Rokupur, Bonthe Island and Tormabom, so we need to have better soil and seed analysis and the study will go with the climate change.

If it goes with the climate change you can get better yield, so all what you are saying makes sense to everybody.
Mr Chairman, what Honourable Dr Kalokoh have said is true.

If you ask me to supply seed and you don’t ask me the time to supply the seed, because all what you are talking about is a seasonal pattern of farming, if you supply the seed that is supposed to be supplied within June, July, August, and you supply it in October, it is a big problem.

So the issues are there and that is the reason we need SLARI, the people for the seed and soil analysis, and even the Meteorological Department.
I said it the last time Mr Chairman, if you can recall, that we need to do a lot of studies in our Agricultural Sector, because you do farming in line with the temperature and in line with the climate, so we don’t need to argue or defend, all of us need to accept the fact and ask ourselves if we are doing the proper Oversight function to ensure that the proper things are been done.

THE CHAIRMAN: That is it.

Honourable Member, well you have just landed exactly where we have concluded.

HON.
HON.

MATHEW S. NYUMA: Thank you very much, Mr Chairman.

THE CHAIRMAN: Thank you, for your contribution.

With regards your contribution as supporting the conclusion that we have made about the increase Oversight and making sure that the right thing is done.

I think with that, we can bring this particular debate to a close.

Mr Minster, perhaps you will want to make your Motion without the response, because that is going to be done holistically at the end of the debate, on all of the Reports.
57 MR SHEKU FANTAMADI BANGURA: Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, I move that the following Vote Heads as in part [3] and [7] as indicated, stand part of the schedule.

THE CHAIRMAN: Thank you.

I am not going to put the question that was what we agreed yesterday after the Minister would have responded Bill.

I think this is a convenient point for us to take an adjournment for lunch, the good Muslims can now go and pray and would ask them to pray for the rest of us.

We stand adjourn to 2 o’clock.

Thank you!


[The House was stand down at 12:40 pm and resumed at 2:15pm] [The House now resolves into the Committee of Supply] THE CHAIRMAN: Honourable Members, we can now deal with two groups this afternoon, group one and ten in that order.

[Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, I pronounce the following Vote Heads and the corresponding estimate to stand part of the schedule.
10900, 11009, 11014, 11600, 12100, 12500, 13900, 20100, 20700, 30004, 30300, 40700, 41500, 70101 and 70101].

THE CHAIRMAN: Mr Minister!

MR SHEKU FANTAMADI BANGURA: Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, I move that the following Vote Heads stand part of the schedule.
Committee of Supply part one; Votes; VOTE-10900, INDEPENDENT COMMISSION FOR PEACE AND NATIONAL COHESION- LE2BLN; VOTE-11009, INDEENDENT MEDIA COMMISSION-LE1, 259,900BLN; VOTE-11014, LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICE COMMISSION LE1, 260,900BLN; VOTE-11600, PARLIAMENT-LE36, 716,817,700BLN; VOTE-10100, AUDIT SERVICE SIERRA LEONE- LE11, 410,589,800BLN; VOTE-12500, LOCAL COURT-LE493, 957,300BLN; 58 VOTE-13900, NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR PRIVATISATION-LE2BLM; VOTE-20100, MINISTRY OF DEFENCE-LE112, 351,080BLN; VOTE-20700, SIERRA LEONE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES-LE60, 664,966,400BLN; VOTE- 30004, NATIONAL EDUCATION COMMISSION-LE5, 474,730,300BLN; VOTE-303, MINISTRY OF TOURISM CULTURAL AFFAIRS-LE3, 576,225BLN; VOTE-40700, MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND SOCIAL SECURITY-LE6, 820,818BLN; VOTE-41500, SIERRA LEONE MARINE TIME ADMINISTRATION LE36, 10,438,300BLN; VOTE-70101, WESTERN AREA RURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL-LE4, 702,269,776BLN; AND VOTE-70101, PORT-LOKO DISTRICT COUNCIL-LE7, 429,055,982BLN.
[Report of Secretarial Committee under consideration by the Chairman of group one] HON.

ABDUL S. M. CONTEH: Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, Committee of Supply Report of the appropriation Sub-Committee One.
Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, in accordance with Section [111] Sub-Section [3] and [4], Section [112] of the Constitution of Sierra Leone Act No 6 of 1991, Standing Orders 64[3] and Standing Order 66[1] of the revise Standing Orders of the Sierra Leone Parliament; the Appropriation Sub-Committee One, review the 2021 budgetary allocations and examined the recurrent and development budget estimate for the 2022, financial year of fifteen Ministries, Departments and Agencies committed to it.
The Committee has therefore, made recommendations contained in this Report for further actions right thereof.

Scope of the Exercise As Stated; The Ministries Department and Agencies [MDAs] account head as stated; 59 Procedure adopted by the Committee as stated; Objectives of the exercise as stated; Committee membership as stated; and General observations and recommendations.
Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, after extensive deliberations, the following are general observations and recommendations in respect of the MDAs under the appropriations Sub-Committee [1] purview.

[i].

During the hearing, some Vote Controllers presented an official memorandum to the Committee written by the Accountant-General on the instruction of the Financial Secretary to return 2020 payment vouchers relating to MDAs that were not approved or processed as domestic arrears for the financial year, 2021.
Therefore, all affected MDAS were requested to reprocess these payments out of their 2021 allocations.

In view of the above, the Committee recommends that the Ministry of Finance should ensure adequate, timely, and predictable release of funds for effective service delivery.

[ii].

The Committee note with concern that most MDAs failed to provide detailed breakdown of expenditure.
Thus, the lack of sufficient documentation and breakdown increases the risk of potential errors and misstatement in the financial statement submitted by the MDAs.

Several MDAs were asked to withdraw until detail breakdown of expenditures were provided for continuation of hearing.
In this regard, the Committee recommends that all supporting documentations including breakdown of expenditures and procurement activities indicating quantity and unit cost per item should always accompany MDAs questionnaire return to Parliament before the budget hearings.

[iii].

The outbreak of Covid-19 in 2020 negatively affected the smooth implementations of the 2020 and 2021 budget.
The Committee therefore recommends that the Government of Sierra Leone continues to mobilise resources to fully fund outstanding programs of MDAs so as to minimise the adverse impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on 60 programme implementation.

Therefore, MDAs should access the impact and identify necessary programming and repurposing work plans considering the involving situation and new ways of working in the light of the new reality.

[iv].
[iv].

The Committee also observed that the 2022, questionnaire was thoroughly revived by the Parliamentary Budget Office in line with International best practice on presentation of revenue, expenditure management and proposals and procurement administration requiring MDAs to provide more information and as such some did not respond to the questionnaire appropriately.
In this regard, the Committee recommends that in future, trainings are conducted by the PBO for Vote Controllers and other core staff on the expectations of MDAs in the budget approval process.

[v].

The Committee observed that a greater percentage of most MDAs annual allocations were spent on procurement.
Thus, the Committee recommends that MDAs should forward to their respective Sectorial Parliamentary Committee financial year 2021, procurement report including list of suppliers and contractors for further consideration.

Specific findings, Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, this section dealt into the salient issues that the Committee observed with subsequent recommendations, it contains both budgetary and policy issues, structures by vote.
VOTE-11009; INDEPENDENT MEDIA COMMISSION AS STATED; In 2021 financial year, the Commission received Le474, 300Mln from the Government of Sierra Leone regular budget and Le407, 302,760Mln as revenue generated from Media houses out of revenue target of Le500Mln.

Lack of digital monetary software and equipment was reported as a major challenge faced by the Commission in monitoring Radio and Television Stations within Freetown and the provinces.
The Committee urged the Commission to secure without further delay equipment and software for improve media monitoring and regulations of radio and Television Stations, newspapers country wide.
The Commission budgeted the sum of Le90Mln as expenditure for the National Media Awards, but ended up spending a Le110, 61 010,250Mln, and the Committee was not pleased with the reasons advanced for excess spending to the tune of Le20, 010,250Mln and strongly warned that the Commission’s expenditure should always be consistent with its plan budget.

Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, the Committee is of the view that the Le1, 229,900Bln allocation provided for the Independent Media Commission is inadequate.
In consideration of the Commission’s role in the 2022, Local Council Elections and the areas that would be affected by the budget cost.

The Committee recommends for a supplementary budget, if any for the Independent Media Commission.

VOTE-10900; INDEPENDENT COMMISSION FOR PEACE AND NATIONAL COHESION AS STATED; Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, since its inception in July, 2021, the Commission is yet to receive funds from both Government and Donor partners.
However, in line with the Sierra Leone Mid-term National Development Plan Goal three, the Commission highlighted the following as its policy objectives.

Build the administrative and operational capacity of the Commissioner both programmatic and non-programmatic levels.

Promote Peace, Reconciliation, Unity and Develop National Systems for all the warning signs and rapid responds.
Research training and strategy partnership engagement provide the Framework for Mainstreaming National Cohesion and integration into National Development Program and evaluate the implementation of the TRC and the Bintumani [3] recommendations prioritise and adopt measures to facilitate the implementations of these recommendations.

Mr Chairman, for the financial year 2022, the Commission submitted a budget of Le8, 447Bln, but was allocated Le2Bln.
The Committee noted that the budget cut would affect negatively most of the deliverables.

Further discussions with the officials from the Commission reveal that the 2021 global peace index places Sierra Leone at fifth position in Africa and forty-six worldwide.

However, there is always a going concern about national fragility that it will degenerate into a state of chaos and national cohesion threaten during elections period.
Therefore, the Commission considers elections preparedness as an essential for peace promotion tolerant and national cohesion during 62 electioneering period.

The Committee is of the view that for the purpose of the Commission to be able to deliver on its mandate, it is important to ensure it has the right structure with competent staff.
Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, considering the importance of this Commission that serves as a national infrastructure for peace, a Committee considers Le2Bln allocation as inadequate and therefore, recommends for supplementary budget, so as to enhance its capability to achieve the key deliverables for financial year 2022.

VOTE-11014, LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICE COMMISSION AS STATED.
Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, for the financial year 2021, the Ministry of Finance approved a budget of Le1Bln for the Local Government Service Commission.

HON.

DANIAL B. KOROMA: After as stated, you go straight to recommendations.

HON.
HON.

ABDUL S. M. CONTEH: Mr Chairman, Local Government Service Commission with a sealing of Le1Bln for financial year 2022, the Commission submitted a budget of Le5, 743Bln to the Ministry of Finance in consideration of the role of the Commission is playing in the performance of Local Councils and in achieving it deliverables, the Committee recommends for a supplementary budget if any.

VOTE-11600; PARLIAMENT, AS STATED.


The Committee observed that the decrease in the budget submitted for other charges by Parliament will negatively affect areas such as operational performance and by extension Parliamentary operations, Legislations, Oversights and Representations.

Similarly, a decrease in salary budget can as well affect staff performance and this will have a spill over effect on the overall institution performance.
Whereas, the Committee view the allocation of Parliament for 2022, financial year to be fair, yet considering the need for the institution to achieve its outline activities as per Constitutional mandate, the Committee recommends that Parliament should be considered for supplementary budget so as to achieve its plan activities.

VOTE-12100; AUDIT SERVICE SIERRA LEONE, AS STATED.


63 The service reported to have achieved some of its key deliverables in 2021, such as the auditing of all MDAs, Local Council, Public Enterprises and Auditing Public Account.

The Committee released that 100% of revenue generated by Audit Service Sierra Leone was expended on capacity building for staff through local and international training.
The Committee was dissatisfied with submissions, clarifications provided by the Audit Service Sierra Leone on the actual expenditure line item for the financial year 2020, and 2021.

The Committee thus, considered such as a recipe for future mismanagement, and recommends that further probing of ASSL actual recurrent expenditure for the financial year 2020 and 2021 be carried out by a competent investigating authority.
Considering the role of Audit Service in ensuring accountability of public funds by public institutions in Sierra Leone, the Committee observes that having carried thirty-one professionals and one hundred and seven technical staff is ridiculous.

Therefore, the Committee recommends that the Parliamentary Committee on Transparency and Accountability investigate the status of this project and report to the House.
Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, for the 2022, financial year giving a budget sealing of Le10,410,600Bln, the Audit Service Sierra Leone submitted a budget of Le10,900,467,716Bln and Le11,410,589,800Bln has been provided as allocation.

The Committee considers this allocation as adequate for enhancement of Audit Services across the country and recommends its approval.

VOTE-12500, LOCAL COURT, AS STATED.


Mr Chairman, for the financial year 2022, the judiciary reported to have submitted a budget to the tune of Le9, 243,300Bln, but allocated Le493, 957,300Mln far below their expectation and the decrease will negatively impact the delivery of justice through Local Court as a deliverable.

The allocated amount was viewed by the Committee as inadequate and thus recommends that a supplementary budget is considered for the Local Court.
VOTE-13900, NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR PRIVATIZATION [NCP], AS STATED.

64 As one of the revenue generating MDAs, the NCP generated from January to June 2021, $7, 19,688 out of the revenue target of $13, 904,78.

The Commission was allocated with 949Mln as Government of Sierra Leone regular budget and 195,133,950Mln from other sources.

The Commission expended 1,213,605,648.40Bln as at 30th September, 2021.
In view of the above, the Committee recommends that the Government takes over the payment of salaries to Sal- post staff, since Sal-post is not generating revenue couple with frequent industrial strikes.

The Commission should start using its official email for all official correspondences, the Commission should also recruit additional staff to effectively run its affairs and the Le2Bln allocation be approved by this Honourable House.

VOTE-20100, MINISTRY OF DEFENCE, AS STATED.


Mr Chairman, out of the 87,733,870Bln received, the Committee noted from the management team that the Ministry expended 85,884,791,586Bln on its key deliverables as earlier highlighted.

The Ministry revenue target for financial year 2021, was 1.2Bln, but generated 800Mln.
Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, the Committee requested for submission by the Ministry a detailed breakdown of revenue generated and expended from the 34 Military Hospital which they did and verified by the Committee Members before the end of the exercise.

In spite of the advantage of generating revenue from civilian and patients committed to 34 Military Hospital for treatment, the Committee cautioned that beds should always be preserve for Military officers who are in need of medical attention.
Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, if the one hundred and twelve billion three hundred and fifty one million and eighteen thousand allocated to the Ministry of Defence is disbursed in full, the Committee’s view is 2022, and allocation is fairly adequate.

VOTE-20700, SIERRA LEONE CORRECTION NATIONAL SERVICES, AS STATED.
Mr Chairman, of the fifty five billion two hundred and fifty nine million and eight hundred and fourteen two thousand five hundred and seventy two 65 Leone received, the Committee observed the services expended on some of the key deliverables for the financial year 2021.

The services revenue target for financial year 2021, was ninety million, but generated thirty million five hundred thousand, with a revenue short fall of fifty nine million five hundred.
The Committee observed that the short falls in revenue generation was not on connected to the destruction SLCS Technical Work Shop during the April 29 incident at the Freetown main Correctional Centre at Pademba Road and the non-functioning of the Dance Band as a result of the outbreak of Covid-19.

In view of the above, the Committee advised management to put in place effective and efficient revenue collection strategies at the 2022, revenue target.
The Committee viewed the allocation to the service as adequate and therefore, recommends it approval.

VOTE-30004, TERTIARY EDUCATION COMMISSION, AS STATED.

Mr Chairman, for financial year 2022, the Committee rigorously examined the Commission’s budget and concluded that the allocation is adequate and recommends it approval.
In consideration, the Commission observed that the 2021, allocation is slightly above the original budget submitted to the Ministry of Finance and the Commission is a revenue generation entity.

The Committee deemed five Billion, and seventy four million seven hundred and thirty thousand three hundred Leone allocation as adequate and therefore, recommends approval.

VOTE-30300, FOR MINISTRY OF TERRORISM AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS, AS STATED.
Mr Chairman, for the finical year 2022, the Ministry made the budget submission of nineteen billion and ninety million five hundred thousand but was allocated three billion five hundred and seventy six million one hundred and twenty five thousand.

Commenting on 2022, allocation to the Ministry, the Vote Controller stated that the reduction affected key deliverables.
On that note, the Committee recommends that the Ministry of Finance releases budget on time to the Ministry of 66 Tourism to be conceded for supplement budget and the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs should consider the procurement of vehicles and motor bikes for monitoring and dispatches.

VOTE-407000; MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND SOCIAL SECURITY, AS STATED.
Mr chairman, whiles advising the Ministry to put in place robust revenue generation strategies, that the Ministry is the revenue generating entity, the Committee viewed the six billion eight hundred and twenty million eight hundred and eighteen thousand allocation as adequate and therefore, recommends its approval.

VOTE-41500; SIERRA LEONE MARINE TIMES ADMINISTRATION, AS STATED.
Mr Chairman, for the finical year 2021, Marine Times target revenue was ninety billion nine hundred and ninety eight million nine hundred thirty eight thousand five hundred eighty, but generated the sum of fifty billion two hundred and twenty five thousand four hundred and eighty Leones.
According to the Vote Controller, the administration could not achieve the revenue target as a result of wavers granted to some customers and Mining Companies and Ker-Power ship which deprived the administration from the much needed revenue and difficulties in reconciling opening balance of customers, because of the unavailability of supporting documents.

The Committee recommends that the Parliamentary Committee on finance should further look in to the issue of wavers.
The Committee considered the thirty six billion and ten million four hundred and thirty eight thousand three hundred Leones allocation for Sierra Leone Marine Times administration as adequate, and thus recommends its approval.

VOTE-70101; WESTERN AREA RURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL WARD ‘C’, AS STATED.
The Council financial year 2021, revenue target was sixteen billion eight hundred and forty six million nine hundred thirty eight thousand, one hundred and twelve Leones, but only generated three billion eight hundred ninety three million three hundred and sixty two thousand eight hundred and seventy five 67 Leones, indicating a huge variance of twelve billion nine hundred and fifty three million five hundred seventy five thousand two hundred thirty seven Leones.
The Chief Administrator attributed that to poor compliance on the part of Tax payers, poor internal control measures, irregularities, non-availability of the property caterstrophy and boundary limitation between FCC and Ward ‘C’, etc.

In view of the above, the Committee advised Management to put in place effective and efficient revenue collection strategies, so that the 2022, revenue target is met.

The Committee view allocation to Ward ‘C’ as adequate and therefore, recommends its approval.
VOTE-70101; PORT-LOKO DISTRICT COUNCIL, AS STATED.

Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, the Committee was not pleased to know that the information provided by the council was misleading, and did not provide detail breakdown with supporting documents and pure supply.

It is in the Committee’s opinion that such action requires further investigation by competent investigating authority.
In view of the above, the Committee recommended the following: The council allocated budget of seven billion four twenty nine million and fifty five thousand nine hundred eight two Leones be approved.
The council should improve on its Public Finical Management reporting and further investigation of the council 2020 and 2021, finical year expenditure item by competent investigating authority, to be regularly monitored by the Parliamentary Committee on Local Government and Ruler Development to ensure value for money.
Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, the Committee hereby recommends that report of the appropriation Sub-committee number one be adopted by this Honourable House and that the budget head including sub-head of MDAs listed below stand part of the schedule in respect of budgeting provision finical year, 2022 [Applause].

THE CHAIRMAN: I thank the Honourable Member for standing and presenting this Report.

We now move to Committee [8] instead of Committee [10] as previously stated.
68 [Mr Chairman Honourable Members, I pronoun the following Vote Heads and the corresponding estimate to stand part of the schedule.

40600, 30700, various 70116, 70113, 40903, 30600, 14100, 10703, 11201, 42700, THE CHAIRMAN: Yes, Mr Minister.

30000, 12300, 10702] MR SHEKU FANTAMADI BANGURA: Honourable Chairman, Honourable Members, I move that the following Vote heads stand part of the schedule.
Committee of supply part [8], VOTE-40600; MINISTRY OF ENERGY, hundred one twenty six billion five hundred and two million seven hundred thirty seven thousand seven hundred Leones.

VOTE- 07000; NATIONAL MEDICAL SUPPLIED AGENCY; seventy five billion six three million four hundred six thousand Leones.

Various, Electricity Generation and Transmission Commission.

VOTE-70116, BONTHE DISTRICT COUNCIL; three billion eight hundred sixty four million five hundred forty nine thousand one hundred seventeen Leones.
VOTE-70113, BO CITY COUNCIL; two billion seven hundred and thirty nine million nineteen thousand seven hundred and ten Leones.

VOTE-40903, DEPARTMENT OF COOPERATIVES; one billion nineteen million one hundred thousand six hundred Leones.

VOTE-30600, MINISTRY OF LANDS COUNTRY PLANNING AND THE ENVIRONMENT; 3,510,290,800.00 vote-14000, Government Printing Department; three billion four hundred and fifteen million nine hundred and fifty two Leones.
VOTE-10703, EASTERN PROVINCE KENEMA; two billion seven hundred and eighty million seven hundred ninety three thousand Leones.

VOTE-11201, PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP UNIT; two billion nine hundred fourteen million four hundred sixty thousand two hundred Leone.

69 VOTE-42700, NATIONAL FERTILIZE REGULATORY AGENCY; one billion five hundred million Leones.

VOTE-30000, MINISTRY OF TECHNICAL HIGHER EDUCATION; forty billion four hundred million three hundred nine hundred ninety six Leones.
VOTE-12300, PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION; three billion ninety seven million four hundred and eleven thousand two hundred Leones.

VOTE-10702, SOUTHERN PROVINCE BO; Three billion one hundred and nineteen million two hundred thirty two thousand one hundred Leones.
Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, the budget allocation for Electricity Generation and Transmission Commission [EGTC] is subsume in 406 under the Ministry of Energy which amount total, one hundred and twenty six billion, five hundred two million seven hundred thirty seven thousand seven hundred Leones.

[Report of the Secretariat Committee under consideration by the Chairman of group THE CHAIRMAN: Chairman of Group eight, is he here?

eight, reports] HON.

MOSES B. JORKIE: Yes, I am here Mr Chairman.


The forth section of the fifty Parliament of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone, Committee of supply Sub-apparition Committee Report group number [8].

INTRODUCTION: Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, financial function is one of the major responsibility of the Sierra Leone Parliament.

In Parliamentary functions, it is referred to as the legislature powers to procure and by implication is the central point of reference in terms of Public Accountability.
Thus Parliament has the power and the authority as inscribe in section [112], sub-section [15] of the 1991, Constitution of Sierra Leone and section [61] and [43] of the Revised Standing Orders of the Parliament of Sierra Leone to examine and amend MDA’s projecting purposes.

Sub-apparition Committee eight hard critical reflections on the 2021, budget allocation.

This means that, the 2022 70 budget was carefully examined in line with the 2021 budget.
The theme of the 2022 budget is ‘Building Resilience for Inclusive Green Recovery in addressing Food Security, Strengthening Systems and Response to Climate change, natural disasters, enhancing Social protection measures, deepening Human Capital Development and improving infrastructure’, the scope as stated.

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.


Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, I wish to draw the attention of this House to the following observations and recommendations in respect of the MDAs’ and Local Council earlier mentioned; [i].
The Committee observed that the Ministry of Finance did not comply with section 33 [1] of the Public Finical Management Act, of 2016 which stated that the state budget shall be laid before Parliament by the Minister not later than two months before the beginning of the finical year to which it is related.

The budget should be laid on Friday 25th October, 2021, instead of 19th November, which is 25 days late.
In view of this, the Committee strongly comments that in future, the Ministry should comply with the provisions.

[ii].

The Committee further observed that, most MDAs only received the first and second quarters allocation, and this has negatively affected their budgetary performance and similarly created huge outstanding public debts and accumulated loans.
On this note, the Committee recommends that the Ministry of Finance narrow the gap between budget allocation and actual disbursements to MDAs in other to ensure value for money and effective service delivery.

[iii].

The Committee also observed that the previous year’s recommendations made by Sub-appropriation Committee have not be implemented by the Ministry of Finance.
The Committee is however aware of the challenge facing the Ministry, but recommends that the Ministry looks into this recommendations from which proposals or recommendations are made.

71 [iv].

It is also observed that some MDAs spent colostrum amount of the allocation on office rent, fuel, office and general, thereby reducing the much needed funds for other purposes.
In line with the 2022 budget speech by the Ministry of Finance, the Committee Fraud at this practice and thus recommends that MDAs compliment Government effort in terms of maximising revenue collection and renationalising expenditure by electing their own office.

[v].

The Committee further observed that own surf revenue generated by some Local Councils were spent on administrative expresses, instead of capital projects.

This under minds the confidence of Tax payers and revenue mobilisation.
The Committee therefore, recommends that these Councils undertake Capital Projects to repost confidence in the Tax payers.

SPECIFIC OBSERVATIONS AND FINDINGS VOTE-40600, MINISTRY OF ENERGY; AS STATED.

RECOMMENDATION AND OBSERVATION.

In conclusion of the above, the Committee recommends that the Ministry of Finance ensures that the Ministry of Energy gets additional funds for their operation and on time.

Point number two.
Point number two.

The Parliamentary Committee on energy and Finance demands the Annual Report from the Ministry of Energy on the 2020 to 2021, and the Generation and Distribution Operation of both EDSA and EGTC and income approved and tabled in Parliament, and a supplementary budget is consider to efficiently support the Energy Sector for economy.

VOTE-30700, NATIONAL MEDICAL SUPPLIES AGENCY [NMSA], AS STATED.
In consideration of the Agency, critical role in terms of enhancing access to affordable, effective, safe, high quality health commodities and services delivery in a cost effective manner, the Committee deemed that the Agency’s proposed allocation as inadequate and therefore, recommends for supplementary budget.

72 ELECTRICITY GENERATION AND TRANSFORMATION COMMISSION, AS STATED.
RECOMMENDATION In consideration of the valuable role in producing electricity and revenue generation, the Committee recommends that this House looks into the coming finical provision and approve base on the percentage.

The Committee also recommends that the Commission allows the selling of electricity directly to it new customers as the amendment Act, of 2018.

VOTE-70116, BONTHE DISTRICT COUNCIL; AS STATED.


RECOMMENDATION Mr Chairman, in view of the fact that this Council receives support from the RMFA, Donor partners and home source revenue, the Committee deemed, three billion eight hundred and sixty four million five hundred fourteen nine thousand one hundred and seventy seven allocation for 2022, as adequate and therefore recommends its approval.

VOTE-70113, BO CITY COUNCIL; AS STATED.


RECOMMENDATION Mr Chairman, whiles the Committee noted BO City Council as one of the huge revenue generating entity and thus ensured management to compel Tax payers into compiling with the Tax laws of this country, the Committee deemed Council’s proposed allocation as adequate and therefore, recommends its approval.

VOTE-40903, DEPARTMENT OF COOPERATIVE OPERATIVES; AS STATED.
RECOMMENDATION Mr Chairman, in view of the above, the Committee recommends the following: Whilst considering the Supplementary budget for this department, the proposed one billion and nineteen million, one hundred thousand six hundred Leones for 73 2022, be approved by the House.

The Acting Director is to be due for promotion, the position of the Registrar and a Deputy to be appointed.

VOTE-30600, MINISTRY OF LANDS, COUNTRY PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT; AS STATED.
RECOMMENDATION Mr Chairman, considering the regime of challenges confronting this Ministry, the Committee deemed this allocation as inadequate and therefore, recommends for a Supplementary budget to enable it surmount these challenges.

VOTE-14100, GOVERNMENT PRINTING DEPARTMENT; AS STATED.

RECOMMENDATION Mr Chairman, in view of the fact that this department is a revenue generating entity, the Committee deemed the proposed Le 3,415,952,000 budget for 2022, as adequate therefore, recommends it approval.
MR CHAIRMAN: Go to your proper seat!

Go to your allocated seat now!

I am hearing so much noise from that end.

HON.

MOSES B. JORKIE: The Committee also recommends that Management addresses both logistical and the Human Resource challenges with urgency, so as to ensure efficiency and effectiveness.

VOTE-10703; PROVINCIAL SECRETARY IN KENEMA, AS STATED.
RECOMMENDATIONS Mr Chairman, whiles calling on the Parliamentary Committee on Finance to probe into this office expenditure matrix, the Committee recommends that the Le 2,780,790,000 proposed allocation for 2022, be approved.
VOTE-11201; PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP UNIT, AS STATED, RECOMMENDATIONS 74 Mr Chairman, in consideration of the fact that this unit receive grants or donor from the donor communities, the Committee viewed the Le 1,19,1000,600 proposed budget allocation for 2022, as fairly adequate and therefore recommends its approval.
VOTE-42700; NATIONAL FERTILIZER REGULATORY AGENCY, AS STATED RECOMMENDATIONS Mr Chairman, the Committee viewed the Agencies 2022 proposed budget allocation as adequate and therefore, recommends its approval and immediate action to replace the Acting Executive Director and few other vacant positions with competent staff, is highly recommended.

VOTE-30000; MINISTRY OF TECHNICAL AND HIGHER EDUCATION, AS STATED RECOMMENDATION.
Mr Chairman, in consideration of the Ministry’s on-going capital project such as the Free Quality Education Flagship Program of His Excellency, the President, the Committee deemed the proposed 2022, budget as inadequate and therefore recommends for it Supplementary budget provision so as to enhance the Ministry capacity to roll out its programme.
VOTE-12300; PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION [PSC], AS STATED RECOMMENDATION Mr Chairman, whiles the Committee recommends the approval of the Commission’s allocation for 2022 Financial Year, management is however exalted to ensure that the Commission’s obsolete registrations are review for onward enactment by this House and office accommodations improved.
VOTE-10702: PROVINCIAL SECRETARY OFFICE BO AS STATED, RECOMMENDATIONS 75 Mr Chairman, the Committee deemed the proposed Le 3,119,232,100 allocation for 2022, Financial Year as adequate and therefore recommends its approval.

Management is however cautioned to improve on their Financial Report.
CONCLUSION Mr Chairman, Honourable Members, I want to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to Members of this Sub-Committee for their co- operation and team work as they critically scrutinised the budget on MDAs under their purview.

Thanks and appreciation goes to the Secretariat and all those who provided the necessary support to this Committee.
On behalf of this Committee, I move that the Vote Heads and Sub-Heads of MDAs including allocations to Local Councils examined by this Committee as indicated in the table below, stand part of this Bill and that the recommendations contained therein be approved.

Thank you, very much [Applause].

MR CHAIRMAN: I thank the Honourable Member for his presentation of the Report.
Honourable Members the question is that the Vote Heads and estimate and corresponding estimate contained in the Report of Sub-Committee [1] and [8] as pronounced by the Minister, stand part of the schedule.

Let me once more remind Honourable Members to confined their views and observations to strictly to the proposals before them.

Very good, I do not see anyone [Interruption] okay yes!

HON.

IBRAHIM T. CONTEH: Thank you, Mr Chairman.

Mine is just a correction to the opening remarks of Committee [8].
The Ministry of Finance did not adhere to Section [33].

Section [33] which was amended in the Finance Act, of 2020, so as to give them time to lay there budget before this House.

MR CHAIRMAN: Thank you, for that correction.

Fine!

Do we have comments or observations?

Do you have one?

HON.

MUSTAPHA SELLU: Yes.

MR CHAIRMAN: I hope it is a substantive one?

76 HON.

MUSTAPHA SELLU: It is Sir!

Group 8, under National Fertilizer Regulatory Agency [NAFRA].

MR CHAIRMAN: Yes.

HON.


MUSTAPHA SELLU: The last bullet of the recommendation Mr Chairman, it is really important that this House take this into consideration, because the Ministry is allocating huge amount of money.

THE CHAIRMAN: What page is that?

HON.

MUSTAPHA SELLU: Page 16, the last bullet.

THE CHAIRMAN: Yes.

HON.


MUSTAPHA SELLU: The Acting Executive Director of this particular Agency is not housed in the office provided for this Agency, he is still at the Ministry of Agriculture heading the Crop Department.

During our investigations, we noticed that since the inception of this Agency, he has not be going to this office and he pays more attention to the Crop Department where he is heading right now, so he is playing double role.
He is an Acting Executive Director here and he is holding that position as Director as well.

THE CHAIRMAN: Is he double dipping?

HON.

MUSTAPHA SELLU: Well I do not know, he is acting in that two capacities.

I do not know if he is paid for the two positions, that I cannot clarify here, but he is managing the two Agencies at the same time.

THE CHAIRMAN: I want that to be investigated.

HON.

MUSTAPHA SELLU: Yes, so as a result of this, the Agency is not functioning since we enacted that Act here in 2020.
He has not been in that office based on investigations.

It is only the Board Chair and the Head of Admin and Finance that is managing that particular office right now.

THE CHAIRMAN: Right, so that is Agriculture?

77 HON.

MUSTAPHA SELLU: Yes.

So the recommendation here is not as [Interruption]...

THE CHAIRMAN: Where is the Chairman of Agriculture, is he here?

What about his deputy?


We want this matter to be investigated and reported back to the House more particularly whether there is any double dipping taking place.

HON.
HON.

MUSTAPHA SELLU: Mr Chairman, it is not just the double dipping, even the money now the Ministry will be allocating to them as an Agency, they will not be using like you rightly said, the Ministry of Agriculture has reduced their budget, because it is more of a Private sector and this regulatory agency should be regulating the fertilizer and private sector people in the fertilizer industry.
If they are working and the Executive Director is not there to oversee the operations of the Agency, it will not work and we just allocate money to them and at the end of the day they do not spend, they cannot go on Oversight to even monitor the quality.

THE CHAIRMAN: The decision of this House is that, this matter be investigated promptly and thoroughly, and a report presented to this House without delay, anymore recommendation?

HON.

MUSTAPHA SELLU: No sir, now to the Committee [1] on Audit Service.
THE CHAIRMAN: Our ears are waiting for you.

HON.

MUSTAPHA SELLU: Mr Chairman, a quick one.

Page 14 of that Report reads [Interruption].

THE CHAIRMAN: The same Report?

HON.

MUSTAPHA SELLU: No, Committee [1] now sir.

Page 14 of that particular Report reads under Committee bullet [1], the first paragraph; ‘Payment for purchase of electric tick head for Board Secretary amounting to Le667, 000 on the 7th January 2021, and Le 867,000 on the 16th February 2021 for the Auditor General’s office.
Payment of 3.9 Bln salary to staff in quarter [1] 2020, which is in 78 variance with 4.7 Bln indicated on the Cashbook presented for January, February on the same 2020.

Mr Chairman, this is greed because if you have produced 3.9Bln, then when you come to your Cashbook now, you are presenting financial statement that contravenes the actual expenditure, it is in itself a fraudulent act.
Mr Chairman, because what you expend should match with your Cashbook and that of your Bank statement at the end of the day, but if you are coming to your Cashbook now where you want to doctor to present a figure to just match your expenditure or match with other expenditures, I see this as something like greed.

MR CHAIRMAN: I will suggest that you lend your technical services to the Committee that have been charged with the responsibility of investigating it.

HON.
HON.

MUSTAPHA SELLU: Okay, thank you Mr Chairman, I will do what you have said Sir.

MR CHAIRMAN: Thank you.

So we have no other?

Everybody is satisfied?

HON.

SAHR CHARLES: Mr Chairman, may I have your attention please?

THE CHAIRMAN: You always have my attention.

HON.

SAHR CHARLES: [Laughter] I hope so.

Mr Chairman, when you look at the Report of group [8], I will take your attention to page 18, under the Vote Head 10702; Provincial Secretaries Office [4] Southern Province office.
You will find out that of all the allocation given to the PS office in Bo, from the findings of the Committee, it said over 50% went to expenses relating to stationaries, computer running cost, coordination of Presidential Visit.

This is a concern, because the PS office we know is a very important office, but for us to see here in this report on the findings of Group 8 for them to allocate almost over half of their allocations to these items listed here is a call for concern.
Of course, their records was also noted by the Committee as much as the running of governance, so the Committee recommended its approval.

I believe going forward it is something that we need to look into.

79 Mr Chairman, the area of the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education, Vote Head 300/00, the financial year that is ending 2021, a total of 150 bln was given and for 2022, we are saying a total of 40bln.
Looking at all the concerns and issues relating to Higher and Technical Education in the country, remember we recently passed the University Act, 2021 and definitely the Ministry will be charged with ominous responsibility to see how they can affect the Act taking into cognisance the establishment of the three new Universities.

I believe we want to emphasise the submission of the Committees that the Government thinks of the Supplementary budget for the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education.
MR CHAIRMAN: Where you a Member of this Committee?

HON.

SAHR CHARLES: No Sir, I am not a Member, having gone through the Report, these are areas I will also want to lend my voice.

We should know that to set up a University is something that is capital intensive, so for their allocation to be reduced from 150BlN to 40BlN is a call for concern.

MR CHAIRMAN: But remember, what is that college called at Hill Station?

HON.

SAHR CHARLES: Linkownking?


MR CHAIRMAN: Yes, we remembered we took that matter up here and some expenditure was made to ensure that, that college reminds in existence and provide technical services to the students as it was intended to do.

That is parity or the difference in expenditure, well it explains the reference to that development, so I do not want you to use that as a point of reference.

HON.

SAHR CHARLES: I am not referencing that.


MR CHAIRMAN: It is rather what you are saying is already captured by the recommendation of the Committee, because they are recommending them that the allocation for 2022, is inadequate and therefore they are recommending for a Supplementary budget to be done.

So you are simply buttressing what your colleagues have already stated not anything new?

80 HON.

SAHR CHARLES: Yes, Mr Chairman it is just for emphases.
Mr Chairman, looking at the task ahead for the Ministry of Higher and Technical Education, I will take you to page 14 under the Government Printing Department.

Sometimes back in 2020, I was fortunate to be in the company of the now Leader of Government Business, then the Chairman for the Committee on Information and we went to the Government Printing Press department.

Series of concerns and challenges were raised.

The Government Printing Press should take into cognisance its management.
From that Oversight, we found out that there is this partnership with this Indian Businessman that they are running the Government Printing Press department.
Mr Chairman, every year, Departments and Agencies come to Parliament and they will report on huge expenses that has to do with the printing of materials and here we have the Government Printing Department reporting, so how do we track expenses that has to do with the printing of documents from various Ministries, Department and Agencies, in line with the mandate of the Government Printing Department?
I believe in advocating for more resources to be given to the Government Printing Department, these are all areas we need to look into so that we can save cost.

MR CHAIRMAN: Point noted and is referred to the Minister, he will capture that in his response at the end of this exercise.

HON.
HON.

SAHR CHARLES: Lastly, before we went for the break, there was this concerned on duty waivers on Agricultural inputs and implements, even though you referred that to be investigated by the Committee on Agriculture or we want the Minister to authoritatively report to this House on that as to what policy we currently have that has to do with duty waiver on Agricultural implements.

Thank you.

MR CHAIRMAN: Well-done, thank you.

It is so directed, the Minister will respond.


I hope we have no other concerns?

Mr Minister.

MR SHEKU FANTAMADI BANGURA: Honourable Chairman, Honourable Members, I move that Vote Heads in Part [8] and Part [1] that have been discussed, stand part of the Scheduled.

81 MR CHAIRMAN: Thank you, I will not put the question now, I will reserve it later.

May the House now resume!


ANNOUCEMENT Honourable Members, we plan to meet again on Monday and take up the Report that is available right now, from group [10], only one group.

I hope before we complete the consideration of that group’s Report, we should have received more Reports, as I indicated at the beginning of this Sitting.
I drew attention to S.O [65], let me remind Honourable Members again, what S.O [65] says, ‘The injunction we must observe is in maximum of five days allocated to this exercise’, we will not take a division now until we see how we progress on Monday and Tuesday to know whether we will need to suspend that particular S.O to be able to continue or if we are able to meet the deadline then well and good, but I am giving you notice now.
Honourable Members, so far we have completed two yesterday, two in the morning and two this afternoon [6], we still have [5] to go.

If we could take up that on Monday, but then there is a PSC meeting which I will chair, maybe we meet for half of the time on Monday.

We will be able to clear two and then hopefully finish the other two.

ADJOURNMENT [The House rose at 3:25 p.m. and was adjourned to Monday, 20th December, 2021 at 10:00 a.m.] 82