By Jariatu S. Bangura
Sierra Leone’s House of Parliament
As parliamentary debate on the 2025 budget commenced, Hon Sallieu O Sesay, a Member of Parliament from Bombali representing the opposition All People’s Congress (APC) has called on the government to strengthen domestic revenue mobilization to reduce reliance on borrowing.
“They are borrowing to pay salaries, and there needs to be a significant increase in domestic revenue mobilization. The government must go back to the drawing board and implement the necessary reforms,” Hon. Sesay stated.
He emphasised that robust revenue strategies would curb the country’s dependence on loans from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other external donors.
Hon. Sesay also urged the government to revisit the current social tariff on electricity supplied by the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA), arguing that many citizens are unable to use electricity efficiently due to high tariffs.
“People are buying EDSA top-up but cannot use electricity as they used to. This has caused widespread hardship. The tariffs need to be reviewed to ensure affordability and reduce the burden on citizens,” he added.
The opposition MP further criticized the government, claiming that promises to fix the economy had not materialized. “We were told the economy would improve, but the reality is different. Prices are increasing daily. The government must address the root causes of these challenges instead of repeating ineffective policies,” Hon. Sesay asserted.
Drawing a sharp metaphor, he compared the sluggish economy to the behavior of “kush” drug users, implying that progress was slow and unstable.
Responding to these criticisms, Hon. Francis Kaisamba, Chairman of the Finance Committee and a representative of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), defended the government’s performance. He noted that most ministries, departments, and agencies had exceeded their revenue targets, signaling progress.
“The budgetary allocation has doubled from Le4 billion to Le8 billion, which reflects significant improvement. Additionally, strategies have been developed to reduce inflation and boost domestic revenue. We urge taxpayers to comply for collective growth,” Hon. Kaisamba said.
He highlighted improvements in the education sector, where the government has made substantial investments. However, he appealed for better working conditions for polytechnic lecturers, arguing that their status should be on par with university staff to enhance the quality of education.
“Improving the service conditions for polytechnic staff is crucial. Let’s ensure that their standards align with other universities to elevate the educational level of students,” he said.
On energy, Hon. Kaisamba acknowledged ongoing challenges but emphasized the government’s efforts to improve the sector. “Energy remains a critical issue, but we’ve made notable strides despite the difficulties,” he concluded.
The debate continues as both sides of the aisle push for policies that will shape Sierra Leone’s economic and social landscape in 2025.
