Vice President of Sierra Leone, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh has assured the newly elected Councillors of Freetown City and Waterloo District Councils of Government of Sierra Leone plan to improve their conditions of service, he further assured the council representatives of an increase in allocation of resources because of the councils’ responsibilities to ensure they improved in revenue collection.
He referred to the councillors as the most important politicians in the local communities.
The Vice President was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of newly elected Mayor, Chairman, and Councillors of the two Western Area councils in Sierra Leone.
Vice President Jalloh admonished the elected politicians to be accountable and transparent in the discharged of their duties, adding that transparency and accountability would ensure the councillors delivered on President Bio’s second term big five manifesto pillars.
He emphasized on the need for an outstanding transparency in the councils, stressing his desire to see the councils respecting the law on transparency within the five years period.
Vice President Jalloh encouraged the elected political heads to embark on serious revenue mobilization in their respective councils, emphasizing on the need for councils to put in place strategies to raise revenue.
Dr Jalloh again encouraged the elected representatives to work as a team devoid of their political affiliation and support themselves to clean the roads.
He admonished the political heads of councils to build relationship with market women. He reiterated on the need for councillors to work, support and respect the administrative staff of the councils, if they want to deliver on the councils’ goals.
Dr Jalloh called on the councillors to work with line ministries including the ministries of plaining and economic development, health, lands, and energy.
Dr. Jalloh highlighted the achievements of President Bio’s first term New Direction Government including education, health, agriculture, electricity, road and infrastructure amongst others.
He noted that the inauguration ceremony was the first in history to have appreciable numbers of female councillors since the reintroduction of local councils in Sierra Leone, noting that the twenty-five female councillors in the western area councils represent over thirty percent female representation. The Honourable Vice President lauded President Bio for women empowerment. He congratulated the councillors on behalf of President Julius Maada Bio.
The Minister of Local Government, Amb. Tamba Lamina noted that service delivery is crucial for the councils, adding that the councils were established to identify and manage problems at the community level.
He explained that the reviewed Local Government Act and the Decentralization Policy make provision for twenty percent representation of tribal and village heads in the western area to now sit in councils but without voting rights. He called on the councillors to work together to ensure development in their respective councils.
