Staff Members of the Parliamentary Budget Office of the Uganda Parliament on Monday 26/05/2025 paid a courtesy call on the cross-section of the leadership of Sierra Leone Parliament in conjunction with their study visit and knowledge sharing engagement with the Parliamentary Budget Office of Sierra Leone Parliament.
Welcoming the delegation, the Rt. Hon. Speaker Segepoh Solomon Thomas expressed thrilling excitement for receiving the officers from the Uganda Parliament. Speaker Thomas accorded a red carpet welcome to the delegation and encouraged them to feel at home during their stay for the study visit and knowledge sharing experience with the Sierra Leone Parliament. He said Africans are the same people, nonetheless, the geographical partition of the continent. Speaker Thomas used the opportunity to send a goodwill message to the Speaker of the Uganda Parliament and the President of Uganda. The Rt. Hon. The speaker concluded by expressing vehement optimism that together, Africa would achieve its emancipation, and the continent would be a united sovereign state one day.
PARLIAMENT ENACTS THE NATIONAL EARLY WARNING AND RESPONSE MECHANISM CENTRE ACT 2025
The Parliament of Sierra Leone on Tuesday, 27/05/2025, debated and passed into law, with some amendments, the Bill entitled; ‘The National Early Warning and Response Mechanism Centre Act 2025’ for the development of Sierra Leone.
The Bill seeks to establish a National Early Warning and
Response Mechanism Centre, which shall be responsible to provide early warning on issues relating to human security and peace in Sierra Leone and to provide for other related matters.
Presenting the Bill,the Minister of Planning and Economic Development Madam Kenyeh Barlay said an early warning centre would be established to provide early warning in Sierra Leone. She added that the centre would also provide means to ensure peace and security in the country. The Minister furthered that the mechanism centre would provide a comprehensive centre to ensure problem solving in the sector. Minister Barlay informed Members of Parliament that the center would generate data to handle issues regarding disaster in the country. She assured Members of Parliament that the centre would also improve early warning and strengthen technical management to ensure effectiveness in the early warning system. She continued that the enactment would benefit the government and people of Sierra Leone through the establishment of legal frameworks. “it will mitigate crisis situation for the people of Sierra Leone,”she said.
SPEAKER THOMAS TEAMS UP WITH SPEAKER OF LIBERIA PARLIAMENT TO ESTABLISH MRU LEGISLATIVE BODY
On Wednesday, the 28/05/2025, a Legislative Delegation headed by the Speaker of the Republic of Liberia, the Rt. Hon. Richard Nagbe Koon paid a planned visit to the Rt. Hon. Speaker of the Republic of Sierra Leone Parliament, Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas. During a brief meeting, the Speakers of Liberia and Sierra Leone discussed the possibility of establishing the Mano River Union (MRU) Legislative Parliamentary Body within the Member States.
Highlighting the purpose of the visit, the Speaker of the Liberia Parliament, the Rt. Hon. Richard Nagbe Koon said the meeting between the two Speakers of Parliament was meant to advance discussion geared towards the promotion of democratic governance, peace, security and to further strengthen and ensure cross-border investment and trade. He also dudcloses that that Parliament would also create a viable roadmap in deepening insights for their respective neighborlines, promoting solidarity, and demonstrating strives in conflict prevention measure and to ensure a stable political and regional peace against any external threat of aggression.
The Speaker from Liberia continued that the proposed MRU Legislative Parliamentary Body would help promote cross-border trade and prevent drug dealing and terrorism within Member States. He acknowledged that they are the direct representatives of the people, which is all the more reason the establishment of the MRU would help address most of the challenges at their respective borders. He called on Speaker Thomas to team up and be part of the movement in formulating a framework as to how they would officially launch the proposed MRU Legislative Parliamentary Body.
PARLIAMENTARY HEARING ON NaCSA & NGOs
The Parliamentary Oversight Committee on National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA) and Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) chaired by Hon. Abdul Latify Sesay on Wednesday, 28/05/2025 summoned NGO for hearing at the Committee Room One. In his opening statement, the Chairman stressed the crucial role NGOs play in tandem with the national development. He underscored the importance of NGOs’ operations in the country and asked them to continue to work in the interest of the State.
During the hearing, the Committee Members requested witnesses from the various NGOs to furnish them with essential documents, including financial statements, status report, Service Level Agreement (SLA), and audit reports, anongst others.
The Committee Members observed that some NGOs are operating without SLA, some failed to produce status reports, others were without financial statements, and other important documents that the Committee had earlier requested. It was also discovered that some NGOs were not following the due diligence.
