By Sulaiman Jalloh
Parliament plays a crucial role in democratic dispensations by representing the people, making laws, overseeing government’s actions, and ensuring accountability.
Parliament serves as a forum for debate, where different viewpoints can be heard and considered. One of the main functions of Parliament is that it acts as check on executive power, ensuring that decisions made by the government are in the best interests of the citizens.
Generally, Parliament is essential for maintaining a balanced and functioning democracy.
The people, on the other hand, are given the mandate to vote for their representatives, legislators or lawmakers and the bargain is for the latter to serve as custodians of public interest and the welfare of the State.
The work of Parliament directly or indirectly affects lives and welfare of the people. For instance, the nation is governed by laws passed in the House of Parliament. It goes without saying that the laws passed in Parliament affect the day-to-day operations of people living in small communities, villages, towns and cities. The Sierra Leone Police or Traffic Warden would easily cite laws relating to roads safety and similarly, government officers or public authorities implement such laws passed in Parliament.
The fact that checks and balances exist between the legislation and the executive arm of government could not be overemphasised. To curtail the excess of powers, Parliament is mandated to carry out oversight functions. These parliamentary oversight committees monitor Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) and hold them accountable on behalf of the people. MDAs are probed by relevant parliamentary committees to explain how funds meant for the people of Sierra Leone are utilized in lieu of projects or programmes for development.
Just like the government ministries, there are committees in Parliament with similar identities. For example, just like there is the Ministry of Works and Public Assets, there is also the Parliamentary Committee on Works and Public Assets. Same for other ministries; you name them. Of recent, the Ministry of Public Works together with the China Railway Seventh Group (CRSG) had signed an agreement to increase the toll charges for the Wellington-Misiaka toll road, but with the intervention of the parliamentary oversight committee, the proposed toll increment was put on hold due to public outcry.
The Minister of Works and Public Assets, Dr. Sandy had already justified the reason for the proposed increment, saying it is due to the Leone experiencing a free fall, citing Article 10.4 of the agreement between the Government of Siena Leone and CRSG in 2015 on the said toll road.
Parliament, through the oversight committee, cautioned the proposed toll charges, demanding CRSG to provide relevant documents which includes traffic data, financial records, among others, to determine the position of the country’s law-making body.
Recently, the Committee on Mines and Mineral Resources chaired by Hon. Emmerson Lamina, toured Karena, Port Loko and Kono Districts to oversee the functions of mining companies in the country. Upon completion of their tour, Hon. Lamina spoke passionately over what he described as “monopoly in the mining sector,” something, he said, will undermine the business industry.
Representing the people is also very important in representative democracy. Lawmakers are therefore expected to bring issues to the attention of the Speaker of Parliament under Standing Order 23 (SO 23). For example, if the community or district is challenged by an unwarranted situation, such matters are brought to Parliament for the attention of related MDAs for solution.
Speaking recently in Parliament, Hon. Hindolo Gevao of Kailahum District raised concern of authorities in neighbouring Guinea grabbing half of Yenga, a land, he emphasised, owned by Sierra Leone. He therefore requested the intervention of Parliament. Days later, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Timothy Kabba headed a delegation to the said land and promised to resolve the matter.
During national budget allocation, Parliament, through the Committees of supply would go through the draft National Budget and decides priorities’ areas for the socio-economic benefits, welfare and development of Sierra Leone. Representation is not only limited to that, but Members of Parliament also do same in international Parliament like the ECOWAS, EU, Pan African, among others.
Concluding, the importance or role of Parliament in society is an expression of the obvious. Let us hope that this role is played with utmost sincerity and a sense of nationalism.
Copy right –Printed in the Expo Magazine on Monday, April 19th, 2024 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
