By Ibrahim Karim Bangura (Tanko)

The Chairman of National Asset and Government Properties’ Commission (NAGPC), Abu Hindolo Moseray, on Monday 13 March, 2023 at his New England Ville office in Freetown told newsmen that the commission is facing heavy challenges and unprecedented neglect over the years.

He said that the commission is an agency under the Office of the President, established by an Act of Parliament in 1990, which make provisions for control and identification of National Assets and Government Properties, and for monitoring of their use or disposal.

“Undeniably, there has been abandonment in the management of government assets throughout the country. Government entities have failed in respect of their responsibilities to report and update the commission on the status of government assets under their purview.” he said.

Chairman Moseray highlighted instance wherein public properties have been deliberately damaged or stolen by members of both government officials and the ordinary countrymen, especially when regime change surface.

The Executive Secretary of NAGPC, Victor V. Kamara disclosed that some of the narrow gains and achievements made by the Commission under their watch in five years, since they assumed office in 2018 to present.

He outlined revenue generation, monitoring of assets, development of national register (Master Register), and the fixed Assets Policy etc. He confirmed that that the Commission has embarked on a robust revenue-generation drive from rental fees accrued from Government Confiscated Property mechanism and has so far raised over One Billion Leone.

“We have an operationalized Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Ministry of Lands and other line ministers for investigations, implementation of police and laws. Pursuant to section 7 (b) of the NAGPC Act (No.2) of 1990, the commission has launched an 880 short code toll free line to directly receive info on issues relating to the misuse, abuse or disposal of government and protection of identity of informers state properties.” He explained.

Nonetheless, the Executive Secretary outlined mammoth of trials the commission is experiencing over time, sporadically from Human Resources, Non-compliance, Budget allocation, Logistics, Technical support. He furthered suggested that the Ministry of Finance must ensure timely disbursement of budget allocations.

Schemes government must facilitate for identification of development support for specialized training and capacity building from friendly partners’ countries. Mr. Kamara, concluded that the government Commission must provide technical and logistical aid including vehicles to enable the commission to accomplish its mandate and responsibilities. At the moment, the Commission can only proud of a single van attached to the Chairman of the Commission recently.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Secretary of NAGPC, Abdulai M. Sesay expressed delighted and gratitude, adding that the media will play a significant role in a bid to spread the aims and objectives of the Commission to the public domain.