The Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) Member of Parliament who doubles as the SLPP Chief Whip of the ruling party, Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh, has expressed frustration over lack of key offices in Parliament with the absence of other digital equipment.
“This is the only Parliament that has powers of the purse but the purse is elsewhere”
He made the assertion when raising the motion to withdraw the Parliament budget as stipulated in Section 4 and 74 of the Constitution of Sierra Leone.
He said the notice is not to put the budget on MDAs in abeyance but to extract Parliament’s budget from the whole budget as stipulated in Section 35 of Public Financial Management (PFM) which asks that Parliament’s budget be treated separately.
He said Parliament’s request of its budget to run its affairs should be treated independently, adding that MPs haven’t offices and their microphones are faulty.
Hon. Tawa Conteh, therefore, entreats State budget planners to treat the well with utmost respect.
Countering the Motion, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Solomon Sengepoh Thomas who presided over the sitting said the motion raised by Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh is in place but cautioned the timing for the discourse and asked that the motion be deferred to another period.
He said when it comes to the welfare of Parliament; he’ll always ensure that MPs are catered for while the parliament needs are met.
The Leader of Parliament, Hon. Matthew Sahr Nyuma also reiterated that he was among the MPs that stood firmly during the 5th Parliament to ensure that parliamentarians’ welfare are being addressed.
He said he was bashed and criticized then but added that he still remains firm to ensure that the welfare of lawmakers are met.
Therefore, upon the submission of the leadership in Well of Parliament, Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh withdraws his motion and deferred to another date.