By Alusine Fullah

The Ninth Report of the Committee on Appointments and the Public Service, chaired by the Leader of Government Business, Hon. Mathew Sahr Nyuma has been debated and approved by Parliament.

The following Presidential Nominees were approved by Parliament:

1. Mr. Andrew Jaiah Kaikai, Executive Director – National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)
2. Mr. Henry Mustaph Sheku, Deputy Commissioner – National Children’s Commission (NCC)
3. Mr. Joseph Boboh Tucker, Director, Board of Directors – National Mineral Agency (NMA)
4. Mrs. Alice Musu Lansana, Member Board of Directors – National Mineral Agency (NMA)
5. Mr. Yankuba Askia Bio, Director General – Sierra Leone Ports Authority and
6. Mrs. Judith Kosseh, Deputy Director General – Sierra Leone Ports Authority

Presenting the Ninth Report of the Committee on Appointments and Public Service, the Leader of Government Business, Hon. Mathew Sahr Nyuma told colleague Members of Parliament and the Acting Speaker, Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas Esq., that all the Presidential Nominees were interviewed on issues relating to their educational backgrounds, experience and track records, tax obligations, vision for designate offices amongst others requirements.

Seconding the motion, the Deputy Leader 1 of Government Business, Hon. Bashiru Silikie thanked President Bio for appointing nominees that would help to promote his agenda. He recommended the Appointments Committee for doing due diligence during the interview and urged the nominees to perform. According to him, the services of the nominees would determine their re-elections and explain to them the structure of primary development. The MP strongly expressed the difficulties they are going through to satisfy the people in light of bringing development and reiterated the necessity of performance.

He described the Director General of Sierra Leone Ports Authority as a grassroot man with respect and related his position to the level of confidence President Bio has in young people. He heaped praises on Andrew Jaiah Kaikai and labeled him as a very popular man. He vehemently advised the nominee to combat drug abuse in the interest of the State. He gave similar advice to all the nominees and wished them well.

While contributing to the debate, Hon. Moriba Amie Nyava from Bo District thanked President Bio for appointing the nominees and advised them to support the people, especially the grassroots. She urged the nominees to be humble and serve well. “You are all very fine people” the MP told the nominees.

Hon. Wuyata Songa spoke about national services from the nominees and zoomed in on the NMA nominees to look at matters that have to do with community benefits in mining.  Mr. Kaikai was described as a man of the people. “Mr. Jaiah Kaikai is simply one of the best grass root men this country has produced” she stated. She assured the House that the nominee would deliver.

Hon. Aruna Massay Ngahiteh informed her colleague MPs that the nominees were qualified and recalled the effort of the Ports Director General. The Female advised all the nominees to positively serve the nation.

Hon. Musa Shaka Sama recalled his political history and used the opportunity to inform Parliament he joined the SLPP, because of the love he has for  the leadership style of President Bio. He predicted his debate on his relationships with some of the nominees including Mr. Tucker and others. He told Parliament that Andrew Jaiah Kaikai had positively changed the political trajectory of Pujehun District and reassured colleague MPs that the nominee would deliver. He appealed to the nominees to be loyal to the State, adding that President Bio’s appointment trend on national Interest. He urged the nominees to serve the nation for growth and development.

Deputy Majority Whip, Hon. Veronica Kadie Sesay while characterizing the nominees as qualified people, cautioned them to deliver positively. She told the Commissioner for the Children’s Commission to get children out of the streets. The seasoned MP spoke about the horrendous situation of illegal drugs (kush) and proffered remedies including rehabilitation of victims in farms. She advised the nominees for Ports to work together. She promised to carry out robust oversight to enduring the deliverables.

Hon. PC Kargobai Desmond Mahayei from Bo district thanked the President for appointing fine compatriots, describing Andrew Jaiah Kaikai for his philanthropic support and advised him to address drug abuse. “Congratulations to all the nominees” the patriotic MP remarked.

Hon. Francis Amara Kai-Samba said the reports of the Committee on Appointments is a true reflection of the interview used the opportunity to urge the nominees for Ports Authority to work assiduously with the National Revenue Authority (NRA), in light of the tax obligation to accrue the required revenue. He asked Andrew Jaiah Kaikai to work holistically with other State parties to combat illegal drugs and also review the laws relating to the same. He referred to the NMA nominees as highly qualified persons expressed hope for their performance and asked the Commissioner for Children to collaborate with the Drugs Law Agency for effective service delivery.

Rounding up the debate, the Acting Leader of the Opposition, Alfred Thompson zoomed In on Andrew Jaiah Kaikai to continue his philosophic support and asked him to vehemently combat illegal drugs abuse. “I am begging you to focus on this job” he stated and went on to remind Henry Sheku to protect the children. He reminded all the nominees to put the country first in their service delivery.  He requested colleague MPs to speedily approve the nominees to go and serve the Country.

While concluding to the debate, the Leader of Government Business, Hon. Mathew Sahr Nyuma denounced a certain immature publication relating to one of the nominees, Andrew Jaiah Kaika.  He recalled what transpired during the Appointments Committee interview about drug enforcement laws relative to the protection of the people, backed up with Constitutional provisions. The Leader eluded President Bio for the appointment of dynamic young people at the helm of State Affairs with special reference to the new Director General of SLPA. He recalled his efforts to enduring women’s participation in governance and pointed out the female Deputy Director General of SLPA. He spoke well about seasoned nominees including those for NMA.

Congratulating the approved nominees, the Acting Speaker of Parliament Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas commended the appointees and urged them to deliver in the interest of the State, “Please do this nation proud as you are all extremely qualified” He concluded.