By Sulaiman Jalloh
Speaker of Sierra Leone Parliament, Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas on Thursday, November 21, 2024, sent a strong warning to all heads of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) that are failing to appear before Parliament during the debate of the 2025 budget will risk having their 2025 budget not approved.
He made the pronouncement on the first allotted day of the 2025 budget debate, noting effective Friday, 22nd November, 2024, all vote controllers in various MDAs must be in the Chamber of Parliament to witness the debate.
Speaker Thomas reiterated that, if any MDA fails to attend the debate, Parliament would be left with no option but to withhold their budgets.
He stressed that, starting on the second allotted day of the debate, the House would make a roll call of all MDAs present which would precipitate punitive measures for defaulters, while reminding that MDAs shallg send representatives not below the ranks of Directors or Deputy Directors.
“We will do a roll call on all MDAs present tomorrow. So, all MDAs should be present during the five-day debate on the national budget,” he urged MDAs.