Samuel Kallon 
During the just concluded debate, the Acting Leader of Government Business, Hon. Emerson Lamina from Kono District has lauded the theme of the Budget.
He made reference to the late President Mandela regarding the love of putting one’s country first.
He commended the Minister of Finance and team for putting together such a nationalistic budget as he clarified some conceptions of the Budget and advised colleague MPs to be patriotic in doing their work.
He recalled and compared the former and current government’s economic management and noted that a hundred dollars USD could buy two bags of rice in Sierra Leone but not in Guinea and other African Countries. He added that Sierra Leonean businessmen could not go to Guinea to buy onions because they are now planted here.
Speaking on the country’s debts, he recalled that the SLPP Government of President Kabba waived all the debts then but that the APC incurred more debts.
The MP informed that the Budget outlined more road projects and expanded electricity and noted that no district is deprived.
He added that the budget’s intentions are good and would benefit many parts of the country.
The Acting Leader also advised everyone to support domestic revenue mobilization and denounced distractions from the Five Big Game Changers, especially rice production, and lauded Government efforts.
He said human capital Development is a landmark initiative for the Government and lauded it for its immense support to education and youth employment schemes in various sectors.
He said the Mining Sector alone could provide jobs for over 300,000 youth and he assured that investors’ confidence has increased the number of mining companies operating in the country.
He blamed the past APC Government for constructing more roads in the North and politicizing Development with little in the South/East.
He recalled the high corruption in the 2017 Auditor General Report and the alarming rate of corruption in the mining sector.
The Acting Leader commended the Government for the huge recruitment and increment in wages and salaries in the budget, especially for teachers. While blaming the past government for corruption, he equally lauded several achievements of the Current Government.
He commended the government’s debt servicing and highlighted areas for completion. He decried the APC for the sacking of former Vice President Sam Sumana.
He said the government prides itself on delivering good governance and by implementing infrastructural development, construction of hospitals, and institutional buildings and among others.
He used the opportunity to articulate the issues of his people relative to the establishment of the Kono University construction under the leadership of the Bio-led Government.
He decried the perennial historical injustices the people of Kono had been faced with.
He applauded that Kono is listed in the 2025 National Budget for the construction of the 18-kilometer Tarmark road in Koindu City.
He assured that the people of Kono would remain grateful to the Bio Administration.
The Minister of Finance, Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura, provided in-depth clarification on issues raised by members of Parliament regarding the 2025 National Budget.
The Bill has been committed to the Committees on Sub-Appropriation on Supply for further scrutiny.
