By Ragan M. Conteh

The Chairman of the Works Committee in Parliament who doubles as the Deputy Leader of Government Business in Parliament, Hon Bashiru Silikie has disclosed that, “members of the public are watching us if we can perform”.

“Three to five years down the line the people will be reading our scorecard and we will be voted out if we don’t perform as a government, while the performance of Ministries Department and Agencies (MDAs) will also determine our re-election.”

Hon Bashiru Silikie made the submissions on Wednesday 24 February 2024 when admonishing the officials of the Sierra Leone Road Authority and its contractors at the Administrative Building conference room in Parliament.

He maintained that the SLRA should work with the Parliamentary Committee on works to ensure that contractors are given contracts with timelines strictly being adhered as indicated in the agreement.

Hon Silikie has also stated in Parliament that Members of Parliament are not responsible for the development in their various communities, adding that MPs’ mandates are limited to oversight functions, making laws and representations.

He informed that the pressures MPs are facing today in their communities and constituents are enormous.

“Today the responsibilities of MDAs have been shifted to MPs. This is not business as usual. We are going to ensure that MDAs perform the duties for which they were appointed.”

He said that government had devolved functions to local councils long ago and parliamentarians are responsible to oversee those development projects, to sconduct oversight to ensure that monies are used for their intended purposes.

He, however, urged those responsible to deliver projects to the communities to do so, as Parliament will not take it lightly, this time, with them.

“There is no room for excuses this time, you are placed in these MDAs to work for the people, help the President’s agenda to become successful,” Hon Silikie said.

During the status report on project awarded to roads contractors, the Director General of the Road Transport Authority, highlighted the challenges faced and successes recorded by the institution and its contractors, adding that one of the major challenges on road works is the encroachment of people on the roads.

SLRA’s Director General Ing. Alfred Jalil Momodu, promised to work with the Committee on Works to ensure that projects awarded by government to companies are completed and challenges faced on these contracts are deliberated and addressed accordingly.