By Jariatu S. Bangura
Lawmakers across the House of Sierra Leone Parliament have intensified calls for state-owned enterprises (SOEs) to become more efficient, transparent, and financially viable, emphasizing the critical role these entities plays in national development.
The renewed push comes amid growing concerns over the financial mismanagement, inefficiencies, lack of financial stability and operational failures that have plagued many SOEs, leading to heavy government bailouts and declining public trust.
During the debate session of the “State-Owned Enterprises and Governance Bill 2025”, lawmakers raised concerns about the persistent underperformance of key SOEs in sectors such as energy, transportation, Water sector and telecommunications like SIERRATEL.
They argued that despite receiving significant government support with regulations, many of these enterprises continue to struggle with inefficiencies, mismanagement, and lack of budget disbursement year in and out and government in and out.
Speaking during the debate, a senior lawmaker stressed the need for SOEs to adopt sound corporate governance principles and improve service delivery. “State-owned enterprises must be accountable and operate with efficiency. They should not be a burden on taxpayers but rather contribute to national economic growth,” the lawmaker stated.
Parliamentarians also called for stronger oversight mechanisms to ensure that SOEs adhere to financial discipline and operational transparency.
Some lawmakers proposed the establishment of a special committee to summon all SOEs performance and ensure compliance with best practices in governance, enlisting their challenges and success stories.
Reports indicate that some enterprises operate at a loss, relying heavily on government subsidies to stay afloat.
This has led to public frustration, with critics questioning why taxpayers should continue funding inefficient entities.
Frequent power outages, unreliable public transport, and deteriorating infrastructure have raised concerns over the competence of these organizations.
In response to the lawmakers’ concerns, the deputy Minister of Finance 2, Bockarie Albert Kamara reaffirmed its commitment to restructuring SOEs and ensuring they operate efficiently.
The Minister of Public Enterprises acknowledged the challenges facing these entities and outlined key reforms, including improved financial accountability, merit-based appointments, and the adoption of modern business models.
“We are implementing strict performance evaluation measures and ensuring that only qualified professionals are appointed to lead these institutions. Our goal is to make SOEs self-sustaining and profitable,” the minister assured.
