P'liament Supports Welfare Bill

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MPs Support proposed "Parliamentary Welfare Act 2022."

By:Musa Kamara

Members of Parliament have today, 14th June 2022 at the well of Parliament, deliberated on the proposed "Parliamentary Welfare Act" that surfaced on social media few days ago. 

The Act is geared towards improving the salaries and conditions of services for Members of Parliament. After it had surface on social media, responding to the said Bill, the Clerk of Parliament, Hon. Paran Umar Tarawally said in a press release, "the said document, being a private members' bill has not been presented to Parliament for consideration. As such, neither the office of the Speaker nor the  Clerk is aware of its existence." The release further stated that, "Parliament wishes the general public to note that it has nothing to do with the above-mentioned bill.... therefore wishes to disassociate itself from the bill and to inform the public accordingly." This is the statement from the office of the Clerk of Parliament stating the position of Parliament on the said Bill. 

Today, Tuesday 14 June 2022, during their normal sitting, Members of Parliament have unanimously taken a u-turn by unanimously recognizing the existence of the bill and call for public support and understanding. After expressing their disappointment on the public for bashing at them for the said bill, the Members of Parliament called for public support by quoting constitutional provisions and standing orders. The Leader of Government Business, Hon. Nyuma stated, the Constitution of Sierra Leone gives MPs the right to prescribed salaries, allowances, gratuities, pension and such other benefits for themselves. 

The Acting Leader of Opposition, Hon. Ibrahim Ben Kargbo said that, Parliament will not apologize to anyone for seeking the welfare of MPs. He said, as opposition party, they are in support of the Welfare Bill when it faced the House for debates. He said their conditions of service must be improved.

The Leader of the NGC party in Parliament, Hon. KKY said he supported the position of the Leader of Government Business and highlighted the Constitutional provision and Standing Order, relative to the welfare of MPs. 

The Acting Leader of C4C, Hon. Rebecca Y. Kamara said, the C4C party is in full support of the proposed Bill when it is in the House for discussion. 

The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Sengehpoh S. Thomas said he is in full support of what all other MPs have said regards to the proposed Bill. 

Climaxing the debate around the proposed bill, the Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Abass C. Bundu said, it is only a fraction of the public that is against the proposed bill. He called on the general public that, anything Parliament intended to do about the welfare of MPs would follow the due process of the law. 

This technical endorsement of the proposed Welfare Bill for MPs by Parliamentarians today comes at a time after the said bill has received widespread condemnation from the public together with the clarion call of the teachers to increase their salaries and other benefits.