By Sulaiman Jalloh
After a long debate, the Parliament of Sierra Leone during its 35th plenary sittings on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, committed the bill entitled “The Sierra Leone National Shipping Agency Act, 2025.”
The bill is an Act to make provisions for the establishment of the Sierra Leone National Shipping Agency as the sole national carrier of the Republic of Sierra Leone with the right to perform at its discretion the Martine transportation of 40 percent of the total value of cargo exported out of, and imported into, Sierra Leone whether unitized of in bulk, dry or liquid, including the provision of FPSOs, FSOs, Freith clearing and forwarding, transshipments, crew management, cabotage service, haulage, and related logistics services and to provide for other related matters.
Presenting the bill to Parliament, the minister of transport and aviation, Fanday Turay, said the very purpose of enforcing the agency effectively thus emanates from the introduction of the bill, adding the Sierra Leone National Shipping Agency will not be like other state-owned enterprises.
Hon. Dixon Rogers, Committee Chairman on Transport and Aviation and chief whip of Sierra Leone Parliament said whoever would lead the agency has a greater role to play. He said with the forty percent; the agency would operate without requesting money from the government saying the bill was not controversial while encouraging members to pass the bill into law.
Hon. Aaron Aruna Koroma, deputy leader 2 of the opposition All People’s Congress (APC) party in Parliament, reiterated that the bill was not controversial, noting “this bill, when passed into law, would increase government revenue,” something he said is very key. However, he raised concerns about the implementation and enforcement of laws passed by Parliament, including the Finance Act, something he notes would give respect to the House of Legislature. “Mr. Speaker and honorable members I want members to consider this bill” he concluded
Hon. Abdul Karim Kamara, opposition whip, said in 2012, Parliament passed an enforcement Act to ensure compliance for the growth of the country. “What we do as MPs is to advocate for our people,” the Lawmaker remarked emphasizing that citizens should follow the laws of the country while appealing for Parliament to enforce institutions that are responsible for raising funds within their required mandates
Also contributing to the debate was the honorable Emilia Lolloh Tongi of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s SLPP Party representing the people of Kailahun district, who said Sierra Leone is one of the best countries in Africa that has one of the best Laws but has not been implemented.
Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Honourable Ibrahim Tawa Conteh thanked the minister for introducing a bill that will establish the Sierra Leone Shipping Agency Act, something he said is timely, especially at a time when the government is struggling to raise funds.
Rounding the debate from the opposition bench, the acting leader, Hon. Daniel Brima Koroma, lent his support to the bill, noting the bill was a very good idea, a move if only things remained equal. He, however, raised concerns about sustainability while asking how far with Sierratel, Sierra Leone Lottery. A government state-owned enterprise that was established by Parliament to generate revenue for the government. “Even SALPOST can take care of government wage bill,” he stated while commending a few state-owned enterprises, including Sierra Leone Commercial Bank and Rokel Commercial Bank, among others.
He encouraged the chairman of committees of Parliament to Inform relevant MDAs on bills/agreements before they would be brought to Parliament.
On his part, the leader of the government, Hon. Mathew Nyuma, noted that Parliament was making progressive Laws, saying nations are moving from donor support. He stated that the bill be committed to a legislative committee for the minister to provide the extant law before they can repeal it. He stressed that it would be the standard of Parliament. The leader, under standing orders (So51.1) of Parliament, moved for the bill to be committed to the legislative committee for proper scrutiny.
In his response, Minister Fanday Turay said the contributions of Members of Parliament would help enrich the bill.