Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698835525541.pdf (Sierra Leone)
Supplement to the Sierra Leone Gazette ltol.

CXLXLII, N6.

70 daled 29th Septembez 2022 BILL TI{E NATTONAL COUNCIL FOR CIVIC EDUCATION AND DEMOCRACY AC[,2V22 ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS PART I - PRELIMINARY l. lnterpretation.

2 Application.

PART TI_ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NAIIONAL COUNCIL FOR CIVIC EDUCATION AND DEMOCRACY 3.

Establishment ofNational Council for Civic EducatioE and Democracy.

4.

Board ofcouncil.

5- Functions ofBoard.

6.

Tenure ofmembers 7.

Meetings ofBoard.

& Disclosure of inter€sl 9.


Immunity ofmembers ofBoard.

10.

Committees ofBoard I l. Rernuneration of members.

12.

Fillingofvacancies.

PART III,OBJECT AND RJNCTIONS OF COUNCIL 13.

Functions of Council- 14. lndependenceofCouncil.

T 15.

16. t7.

PART IV_ADMIMSTRATIVE PROVISIONS Ex€cutive - Director and Deputy Executive -Director.

Other staffofCouncil.

Secondment of public offi cers.

18, Protection ofoffrcers.

19. x. Directordtes of Council.


Regional and district oftices ofCouncil.

PART V. FINANCI.AL PROVISIONS 21.

Funds ofCouncil.

22.

Accounrc and audit ofCouncil.

23.

Financial year ofCormcil.

24.

Annual r€port.

PART U.MISCEIIANEOUS PROVISIONS 25.

Regulations.

No.
2022 Siera Leone A BILL ENTITLED The National Council for Civic F-ducation and Democracy Act" 2022 Shon titlc Being alAct to provire for &e establishment ofthe Natioml Council for Civic Education and Democracy for the purpose ofcotrtinuous trationwide civic €ducation on the roles and r€sponsibilities of citizens, the duty of patriotism and nrtionalism, to provide devclopment communication for Government and pertner programmes to tbe p€ople ofSierra Leone snd to provide for olher related matters t Datc of com- mctcemcot.
Enacro by the Presid€nt and Members of Padiament in ,his Present Parliament assembled- 2 No.

Tle Natioaal Coutcil fo Citic Hacarion aad Demooa.t Act, 2'022 PART I.
PRELIMINARY IntriDrct tior- l. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires- "Council" means the National Council for Civic Education and Democracy established under section 3; "Executive-Director" means the Executive-DirE tor appoint4d under subsection (l) ofsection l5l "Minister" means the Minister responsible tbr Plarning and Economic Deyelopmenl Application 2.
This Act shall apply to all matters pertaining to operations or transactions carried oui in or cootre.ted with formal and non- formal civic education, cornmudty engagement, aationalism and patiotism and awarcness raising tbroughout Siera Leone.

Establ ishm€nt of Nationrl Council for Civic Educrtion ed Damocracy.

PARI II _ESTABUSHMENT OF TI]ENATIONAL CoLIN:CIL FOR CIVIC EDUCATIONAND DEM@RACY 3.

(1) There is hereby established a body to be known as the National Comcil for Civic Education and Democracy.
(2) The Council shall be a body corporate having perpetual succession and capable of acquiring, holding and disposing of aoy property, whether movable or immovable, and of suing and being sued in its corporate nme an4 subject to this Aca ofperforming all such acts as bodies c6rporate may by law perfonn- (3) The Council shall have a cofllmon seal, the use of wtich shall be authenricated by the signdure of- (a) the Chairman or other member ofthe Boad authorised either generally or specially by the Board in tbat behalf; and (b) the Executive-Direcmr or some other person authorised by the Board in that behalf.
i\o.

The liatiotul Courc;l lo Civic fuEatio,, aad Derno.ruq Act, 4.

(1) The goveming body ofthe Coungil5[al[ [s3 !6ard Bo6td of in rvhich shall be vested, suU.leit to this Act, the control aad 6uncil.

supervision of the Council.
2U22 3 (2) The Board shatl consist ofa Cluirnan and the following otler members - (a) the Development Secretary, Ministry of Planning and Economic Developmenq (b) the Chairmaq Human Rights Commission of Sierra t one; (c) the Chairman, National Commission for Persons with Disabilitg (d) the Secretary General, Sierra lrone Teach€rs' Unionl (e) the Permanent Secr€tary, Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education; (0 the Chairmaq Council ofParamount Chie&; (g) a representative Aomrie Ministy ofFinance; (h) a represenative fiom the Ministry ofYourb Afairs; (D a representative from the Ministry of Information and Communications; (D a representative ftom the Ministry ofPolitical and Public Aftirs; (k) a representative from the Ministry ofGender and Children's Affair @ 4 other members, 2 ofwhom shall be womerq appoinred by tte President subject to the approval of Parliamenl; and (m) Ihe Exeo{ive-Director, who <hetl be seqetay to the Board.
.l NG TIE Notional Courti!

for Ct,\ic Edtcadon arul Dem@taey A!t.

2022 G) The Chairmao and the 4 odrer members ofihe Board appoilted under paragraph (h) shail be appointed from among persons witl proven knowledge in civic education.

FuDctions of Board- 5.

(l) Subject to this Act, the Board shall supervise the Counci!

including overseeing the sound and proper financial management of the Council.
(2) It shall also be the responsibility of the Board to provide such polioy guidance and advice as will eosure the efticient implernenation ofite functions ofthe Courcil and enhance the ovemll performance of the Council- Tenure of mcmbers.

6.

(l) The Chaimlan and 4 other members of the Board appointed under paragraph (l) of subsection (2) of Section 4, slrall hold offrce for a period of 3 years and shall be eligible for re- appointment for a fifther term of 3 years only.
@) A person shall cease to be a member ofthe Board on any of the following grormds- (a) for his inability to perform the firnctions of his office by reason of infirmity of mind or body; O) for proven misconduct; (c) ifhe becomes baskrupt or insolvent; (d) if he is convicted and sentenced for an offence involving taud or dishonesq; (e) ifhe fails to attend 3 consecutive meetiDgs ofthe Board without reasonable cause: (f) if he resims his office by *rirten notice to ttre Minister.
Meetings of Board 7- (l) The Board shall meet for ttre dispatch of its business at least once every 3 montbs and at suclt time as the Chairman may detemdne- Nc The Natioaal Council for Ciyic Educdlion and Demrclac!

Act, zLfz 5 (2) 1he Chairman shall preside at every meetirg of the Boar4 if present, and in his absence, the members present shall appoint amember Aom ammg ftemselves to pr€side at thaf me€ting.
(3) Aminimum of 3 members ofthe Board may, bynotice itr rwiting signed by them, request rhe Chairman to surnmon a special meeting of the Board for such purposes as may be staled in the notice.

(4) The Chairman or, in his absence, the member appointed to act in bis behalfshall summon a special meeting within 3 days ofhis receipt of the notice referred to in subsection (3).
(5) The quorum at ary meeting ofthe Board shall be 7 (6) The Chairman or other person presiding shall have a casting vote where there is an equality of votes.
(/) Any proposal circulated among all members and <hall be of agreed to in writing by a two-ttirds majority sfall m€mb€rs the same force or effect as a decision made at a duly constiEted meeting ofthe Board and shall be incorporated in the mhstes ofthe next succding meeting of dre Board: Provided that, if a member requires that zuch proposal be placed before a meeting of the Boarq this subsection shall not apply to such proposal.
(8) The Board may co-opt aay person to attend and participate in its deliberations on any matter but such person *all not vote on any issue for the decision by the Board (9) The Board shall cause minutes ofall its m€tings to be aken and signed by the Chairman and kept in proper form- (10) Subject to this Act, the Boad shall regulate its own' meeting procedure.

6 No.

Tle Natioaal Cancil .for Cieic M corion and Deauracy Act, 2022 Disclosure of interest.
& (l) A member of t&e Board who has any cotrflict of intercs!

q,hether direct or indirect in any matter being considered or to b€ considercd by the Board shall disclose 6e natue ofhis hterest to the Board and the disclosure shall be recorded in the minutes of the Board and such member shall not take part in an)' deliberation or decision ofthe Board relating to thal matter.
(2) A member ofthe Board who conEavenes subsection (l) shall be guilty ofmiscotrduct and shall be liable to be removed Aom fre Board- Irnmuoilv of EErtrbers of Board.

9.

O) Action or other proceedings shall not lie or be instituted against a member ofthe Board or a member ofa committee ofthe Board for or ir respert ofall act or thing done or omitted to be done in good faith in the exercise ofhis fimctions rmder this Act.
(2) Amember ofthe Board shall not be personally liable for any debt or obligation ofthe Council- Committ€es of Board- 10.

(l) The Board may, for the discharge of its functiotrs, appoirt one or more committees to perform such flrnctions as the Board may determine.

e) A committee ofthe Board appointedunder subsection (l), sball consisr ofmembers ofthe Board or non-memben or bot!

as the Board may deterrnine.


(3) Mthout prejudico to the generality ofsubsection (l ), the Board shaU appoint an audit committee consisting of such members of the Board, excluding the Executive-Director, and performing such fimctions as the Board may detennine.

(4) A committee shall submit a report of its Foc€edings to the Bofid at such time as the Board may detemrine.

11.
11.

(l) The Chairman and the othermembers of&e Board and any person co-opted by the Board under subsection (8) ofsection 5 shall be paid zuch remuneration, fees and allowances approved by the Minister and shall be reimbursed by the Council for expenses hcurred in contrection with the discharge of their functions as the Board may, with the approval of the Miaister, determine.

Rernuneradon of mamb€rs.


Nq The Nationai Courcil for Civic Educalion ond 2022 (2) Notwitbstarding subsectiou (l), a member of the Board who receives salary from the coosolidated fird sball be entitled ooly to a sitting fee.

Dernocract' '4ct, 7 12.
(l) \ltlere the Chairman or a member ofthe Board dies, FiItug of resigns, is removed ftour office or is absent for a continuous period vacsncies exceeding 3 months or is by reasoa ofillness rmable to perform the functiors ofhis offrce for a continuous period of3 months- (a) the members ofthe Board shalt as the case may be, elect one of their number to act as Chairman until such time as tLe Chairmatr resrmres his omc€ or another is appointed in his stead: and (b) in the case offte member, the Chairrnan SalI arrange, subject to this Act, to have another person appointed to the Board (2) Where aperson is appointed as Chairman or appoined as a member to fill a vacancy, he shall hold olfice for tlrc rcmainder of the terrn ofthe previous Chairman ormember, as the cme may be, ad shall- subject to this Act, be eligible for re-appointrnent.
PART Itr-OBJECT A}iD FUNCIIONS OF COTINCIL 13.

(1) The object for which rhe Council is established is to Futrctions inculcate, in the p'Jblic, a strong sense of civic responsibility, of council' patriotism and nationalism.
(2) \t'i&out prejudice to the gene.rality ofsubsection (1), it shall be the responsibility ofthe Council to- (a) create and sustain awareness ofthe principles and objectives of the Constitution of Siena Leone as the ftrndamental law ofthe people of Sierra Leone; (b) educate and encourage the public to detbnd, uphold and protect the Comtitution of Sierra Leone at all times against all forms ofabuse and vioiation; Nq The Ndtiorral Cottncil for Civic Education and Dem@racy Acl, 2W2 (c) formulate programmes, at national, regional and distict level, aimed at - (f realising the objectives of the Corstitution of Siera Leone: (i) bringing goverment closer to the citizens through conrmudty outreach eng€ements and the media; (d) collaborate with relevant ministries, departmena and agencies to develop and periodicallyreview civic education currictlum for schools: (e) collaborate with and support releyant ministries, departme s and ageDcies to develop effective implementation of civic education and denrccrac-v corrununication; (0 perform such other functions as the Board may, subject to this Ac!
from time to time assign to it Indepeodence of Council.

14.

In the discharge ofis fimctions rmder this Act, the Council shall not be subject to fte direction or contsol ofany other person or authority.

Executive - Director and Deputy Executive.
Director PART IV_ADMIMSTRATTVE PROWSIONS 15- (l) Tbe Council shall have an Executive-Director and a Deputy Executive-Director both ofwhom shall be appointed by the Prcsident subject to the appn val ofParliameft (2) A person shau not be appointed as Executive-Director unless he has proven knowledge and experience in civic education- (3) The Executive-Director shall be responsible to the Board for the perfommnce of the following fi.rnaions- (a) to provide overall leadership in the conduct and management ofthe day+oday business or activities ofthe Council; No.
9 Tie Notional Council for Civic ttation and Democracy Act, 2022 O) to initiate and maintain high-level contact with stakeholders, both local and international, in relevant ar€as of the opemtions of the Council; (c) to superwise the preparation of th€ annual budgets aqd report of the Cormcil for the review and approval ofthe Boar4 (d) to oversee the work and discipline of the other staffof the Council; (e) to carry out such other functions as may be necessa.ry for the purposes of the Council assigned to him by the Board.
(4) The Council may delegale to ite Executive Dilector, the power to - (a) recmit such grades or categories of staff as the Council may d€termine; (b) enter into agreement, for the purpose of carying out the fimctiom of&e Council for ard on behalfofthe Council.

(5) In the performance ofhis fiEctions under subsection ( I ), rle Executive-Director shall be assisted principally by the Deputy Executive- Director who shall also act for the Executive-Director in his absence.

16.
16.

(I) The Council shall have, in addition to the Exerutive othcr stafr of Director, such other technical and administrative staff as may be council' required for the emcient perfomanc€ ofthe fimctiorn ofthe Comcil.

(2) The other technical and administrative staff of the Council under subsection (i) shall be appointed by the Boand subject to such terms and conditions as the Board shall determine.

17.

Public officers may, at tle instance of the Council, b" S"-nd.
"n, seconded or othen{ise render assistance to the Council but the of public Council may request the witidrawal of such seconded saffwto is ofiiccrs, unable to carqr out assigned functions in a marurer stishctory to the Council.

IO Nc,, The Ndtionol Cou,tcil l'ot Civic Edrcalion and turnerccy Ad 2022 Protgction of oIIic.rs.

18.
18.

An officer or employee ofthe Cormcil or a person acting on tte directions ofan oflicer or employee ofthe Council shall nct be liable in resp€ct ofany matter or thing done b;, him in good faith rmder dris AcL Directorates of C(xlncil.

19.

(l) The Board shall, on the recommendation of the for Ex€cutive-Director, creat€ such directorales, as rnay be nec€ssirry the performance ofthe functions ofthe Council, including - (a) Directorate of Administration.
Finance asd Human Resources; O) Directorate ofCurriculum Development and Training; (c) Directorate of Programme, Research, Monitoring and Evaluation and kaming; (O Directorate of Conrmrmications, Education and Outreach.

(2) A Dircctorate of the Council sball be headed by a Director and shal!

have such divisions as may be necessary for the performance oftlrc functions ofthe Council- Rreional and x.
(l) There shall be established in each ofthe administrative lltf::-"^T* regbns and disticts of Sierra Leone, such regional and district ofhces or Lounctr' ofibe comcil as the Board may determinel C) A dislrict offic€ established rmder subsection ( I ) shall be rmder the supervision ofthe regionai office in the region within nhich the district office is located.

(3) A regional aDd district Ofnce established under subsection (l) shall perform such functions as the Board may detennine.

FunG of Council.

21.


(1) consisting o!

PARTV.

FINANCFT PROVISIONS The a.tivities ofthe Comcil sball be financcd by funds No.

ll The Natiohal Coureil fq Ctvic Edueatioi ar.d fulndto.!

AA 2022 (a) monies appmpriated by Parliamt for &e purpos€s of the Courlcil; @) monies given to tlre Council by way ofgifts, endowments, bequest, grant or other conlributions by persons and organisations for the prposes ofthe Council; (c) all othermonies v&ich may, Aom time to time, accrue to the Council.
(2) The frmds ofthe Council shall be applied only for the purposes approved in the budget ofthe Council other r€cords 22 (1) The Council shall keep proper books of account and lccouos in reladon to the activities, property and finances of &Y-dit the council in a form approvea by the arlaiilii"..*1, -a hall of council prepare in respect of each fmancial year oftbe Council an annual financial stat€ment which shall include - (a) balance sheet accounts; I (b) income and expenditure accounts; and (c) sornce and applicatior offirnds.
(2) The ac.ounts of &e Council kept rmder subsection (l) shall, not later tban 3 months after the end ofeach financial year, be audited by the Auditor-General or an auditor appointed by him.
(3) For the purposes of subsection (2), the Auditor- General or the auditor appointed by hinr, sbaU be entitled to have access to all books ofaccoung vouchers and o&er Iinancial records ofthe Courrcil and to require such informxion and elplanation lhereon as he may think fir (4) The Council shalt provide the Auditor-General or the auditor appointed by him with all necessary and appopriate frcilities for the examination ofthe accounts and records ofthe Council.
D No The National Council for Civic Education and Dernocrac!

Acl, 2022 (5) The Auditor4eneral or the auditor appointed by him shall submit to the Council, a rcport on the audited accounts and the financial statements referred to in subsecrion ( I ) and shall, in his report draw attendon tG.

(a) any irregularities in the accounts; (b) any matters that are likely to adversely affect the operations ofthe Council; and (c) any other maner which.

in his opinion, ought to be brought to the notice ofthe Council.
Fir!ancial ycar of Council.

Annual aePon- 23.

The frnancial year ofthe Council shall be the same as year of the furancial year ofthe Govemment ofSiera Leone.

24.

(l) The Council shall within 3 months after the end of the financial year, submit to the Minister a report on the performance of its functions during that year and on its policy and programmes.

(2) The annual rcport submitted under subsection (l).
shall include the accounts and annual financial statement prepa.ed under section 22 and the report ofthe audit thereon- (3) The Minister shall lay copies of the annual repon before Parliament within 3 months after receipt ofthe annual repon.

available to all stakeholders once it has b€en (4) The Council shall make copies of the annual rcpon laid before Parliament.

PART VI _ MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS Rcgulations.

25.
25.

The Minister may, by statutory instrument, after consultatioo with the Council, make Regulations as he considen necessaqr or expedient for giving effect to the provisions ofthis Act.
No The llational Couttcil for Ciric Fitcation aad Dem(rracy Acl, 2022 l3 MEMORANDUM OF OB'ECIS AND REASONS The purpose ofthis Bill is to provide for the establishment ofthe National Council forCivic Education and Democracy, to provide national civic education ott civic responsibilities, nationalism, patriotism and democracy throughout Sierra l-eone, to provide development communication forGovemment and partner programmes to the people of Sierra Leone and to provide for other related masers.
The Bill is divided into 6 pafls - Part l - provides for the interpretation ofcertain terms and exprcssiom in the Bill.

Part II - provides for the establishment ofthe National Council forCivic Educaion and Democracy and the Board of Council Part III - provides for the functions ofthe National Council for Civic Education and Democracy.

Part lV - deals with administrative provisions and includes the appointrnent of the Executive-Direclorand Deputy Executive-Directorandother$taffofthe Comcil.
It also provides for the establishment ofdircctorates ofthe Cormcil and regional and district omces.

Part V - deals with financial provisions of the Council which includes firnds of Council, accounts and audil ofCouncil fmancial year of the Comcil and annual report.

Part W - includes miscellaneous which vests the power to make regulations in the Minister- MADE this 1-rr, day of September, 2022 DR. FRANCIS MUSTAPTIA KAI.KAI, Minbter of Planning and Economic Development, FREETowN SIERIA LEoNE.
Prorreo eNo PususrreD By rnE Co!

'ERN[@q Pnrvrnrc Dererno.n, SrRnA LEoNE G-rzE rf, No.

70 or 2hE SprEr,sE& 2022.