The Parliament of Sierra Leone on Thursday, 18/01/2024 debated and passed into law, with some amendments, the Bill entitled “The National Monitoring and Evaluation Agency Act 2024”, for the development of Sierra Leone. The Bill seeks to make provision for the establishment of The National Monitoring and Evaluation Agency as a semi-autonomous body, with authority to ensure greater accountability and transparency in the disbursement and use of public funds, to provide for the promotion of efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of programs and Projects and to provide for other related matters.
Presenting the Bill, the Chief Minister, Dr David Moinina Sengeh said the document is important and that, currently the country does not have such legislative guidance. The Chief Minister said the Bill would enhance the improvement of MDAs and decision-making in light of the effective implementation of policies and programs. He informed the House that the Act is a best practice in many countries and would help to hold MDAs accountable and proffer recommendations. The Chief Minister went on to highlight the importance of the Bill and explain the content, structure, composition, penalties, and huge benefits amongst others. He recalled President Bio’s positions and other State authorities on the Bill and assured the House that the document would promote national monitoring and evaluation. “This Act is not to replace Audit Services, is not to replace ACC, is not to replace FIU of any other accountability measures in Section 93 but, rather is to provide material and information and mid-term to be useful to enhance the delivery of those other entities of Government”, he said. The Chief Minister stressed the strategic relevance of the Act and spoke about the impact of coordination, planning and the benefits of the agency. The Chief Minister while reassuring Parliament, spoke about the financial implementation and legal implications of the Act and went on to say that they would do everything possible to promote effectiveness transparency, and accountability and emphasized that the Act would build public confidence in governance. The Chief Minister outlined the relationship between the Act and other related policies. Contributing, Hon. Mohamed Alpha Jalloh from Falaba predicated his debate on openness, transparency, and accountability of the Government and used the opportunity to ask the House to debate the Auditor General Report.
The MP also spoke about the composition of the Bill, remunerations of officials, and the authority of the entity, in light of appointment or recruitment. He urged the Chief Minister to promote due diligence in the agency.
Hon. Mustapha Sellu from Moyamba District eloquently explained the relevance of monitoring and evaluation and commended the Chief Minister for the document. The MP advised the Chief Minister to ensure that the donor funding program works in consonance with the agency. Hon Mustapha Sellu spoke about the clear monitoring and evaluation framework and also considered some aspects of the Bill. He informed the House that the Bill would build donor confidence in the country. He emphatically expressed the relevance of monitoring and evaluation in light of impact.
Whip of Opposition, Hon. Abdul Karim Kamara, said the essence of the Bill is to ensure the gatekeeping of government funding and not to be wasted. He used the opportunity to ask Parliament to debate the Audit Service Report to add value to the Monitoring and Evaluation Agency. The MP heaped blame on both the current and past governments for boycotting debates on the Auditor General’s Report. The Whip decried the attitudes of MPs in that direction. He stressed many controversial issues that are predicated on transparency, accountability, and good governance.
Hon. Siaka Musa Sama from Pujehun District described the Bill as a good document, in light of holding MDAs accountable. The MP advised the Chief Minister to have an awareness-raising campaign to inform citizens to be able to hold the government accountable. He appealed to the Chief Minister to ensure the availability of resources for program implementation.
Hon. Mariama Zombo from Pujehun District said the Bill was good and would make citizens accountable and transparent. The dynamic Female MP underscored that the agency would enhance open governance and build donor confidence. She expressed doubt as to whether the processes and procedures of the international organizations would also be monitored. The MP advocated for the recruitment of officials to align with gender responsiveness.
Hon. Ibrahim Barrie from Bombali said the Bill would foster transparency and accountability. While decrying the establishment of the agency, the MP said the latter would have some implications on the Wage Bill and would cause potential redundancy and fiscal implications. He used the opportunity to advise the Minister not to allow duplication of agencies.
Hon Mahmoud Kamara from Western Urban District said the Bill would drastically reduce corruption, but many institutions are doing the same job and service, and would be a duplication.
Hon. Joseph Williams-Lamin decried previous speakers for relating the agency’s establishment to an incremental Wage Bill, underscoring the necessity of having more institutions to monitor and evaluate. He also advanced the reason for recruiting people to deliver services essential to the State. The MP emphasized the importance of instituting other monitoring mechanisms and spoke positively about the essence of transparency and accountability. He informed the House that the Bill would save more money.
Hon. Keikura Vandy from Bo District underscored the importance of recruiting people to render quality services and recalled that international donor organizations used to rely on resident evaluators. He assured the House that the Bill was not contentious, and decried previous debaters for expressing that the creation of the institution would be tantamount to a bloated Wage Bill. The MP used the opportunity to highlight the huge recruitment done by the current Government to deliver quality services, in tandem with population growth. The MP also clarified and responded to many other concerns earlier raised by Opposition MPs.
Hon.Tamba Kellie from Kono District raised a series of concerns about duplications of service and expressed disapproval over the establishment of the agency.
Hon. Charles Abdulai from Bo District said every action needed this kind of framework and underscored that Sierra Leone needs this Act to avoid wastage of resources. The MP said the Act was necessary.
Hon. Mohamed Bangura from Karene District commended the Chief Minister for putting the document together and for performing other State services. He said the Bill is about transparency and it was prudent for the nation to have an agency in that direction. The MP emphasized that the Bill is a good one, and noted that Parliament should not delay the passage of such a fine document. Hon. Bangura expressed concern over the economic implications of promoting the agency.
Rounding up the debate, the Acting Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Daniel Koroma, said the House was ready to pass the Bill into law. The Leader expressed the purpose of the Bill relative to transparency and accountability. Hon. Daniel Koroma strongly drew the attention of the House to the endemic nature of corruption and blamed the House for lethargy. “We cannot be against a Bill for accountability” he stated, adding that if Parliament was up to the task, such a Bill would not be of necessity. He emphasized the powers of Parliament, in light of accountability and transparency. The Leader did not hesitate to say that political party loyalty is hunting them “Can Parliament be Parliament to fight corruption” he said. He raised critical concerns about the Bill, relative to the 2019 Finance Act, and also cited certain points, including meanings.
Concluding the debate, the Leader of Government Business, Hon. Mathew Sahr Nyuma, thanked all MPs for their various contributions and tried to explain the object and importance of the Act. He also comprehensively clarified certain areas concerning important regulations that are related to the Bill. The Leader also clarified some Clauses in the Bill relative to reasons, composition, and also the harmonization of the Wages and Salary. He assured colleague MPs of developing the capacity of officials, among other related matters.
