By Yusufu S. Bangura
IGR boss doing a presentation
The Institute for Governance Reform (IGR) has launched its first deliberate reform strategy, an incentive program aimed at enhancing the performance of the judiciary and parliament.
The initiative seeks to tackle systemic underperformance and boost efficiency in public service delivery.
The official launch took place at the New Brookfields Hotel on Jomo Kenyatta Road in Freetown.
During his presentation, IGR’s Executive Director, Andrew Lavali, emphasized the need for intentional and strategic reforms to reshape Sierra Leone’s governance landscape.
He identified parliament and the judiciary as critical starting points for improving service delivery through targeted incentives.
Lavali referenced the Government Transition Team (GTT) report, which highlighted instances of misconduct that had been addressed through prosecutions at the onset of President Bio’s administration. However, he noted that similar issues continue to recur, indicating deep-rooted systemic problems that hinder institutional efficiency.
“As regimes change, new administrations often replace personnel without implementing the necessary structural reforms to correct inefficiencies and stagnation,” Lavali stated.
While the initiative is aimed at reforming the judiciary and parliamentary performance, Lavali stressed that an incentive-based system could drive improved outcomes and ensure efficient service delivery.
He argued that institutional failure persists because these entities are often designed to serve the interests of a select few rather than the broader public, leading to decreased trust in government functions.
According to Lavali, underperformance continues because successive governments maintain extractive systems, prioritizing political appointments over meaningful structural improvements.
He explained that with limited resources and a small private sector, the state remains the primary source of wealth, leading governing parties to centralize appointments, promotions, and dismissals at State House, often favoring political loyalty over competence.
He cited declining public trust in key institutions over the last 15 years, with confidence levels recorded at 19% for the police, 34% for parliament, and 36% for the courts—the lowest figures reported in 2022. He attributed this to executive influence over these bodies, which weakens accountability mechanisms and fosters public skepticism.
“They lack financial and operational autonomy. Executive control over these institutions has led to longstanding frustrations over politically influenced policing and judicial decisions. MPs are often seen as working for their own interests rather than holding the executive accountable,” Lavali said.
He further noted that weak oversight structures lead to significant economic losses for the state, with large-scale transactions being mismanaged due to ineffective regulatory mechanisms. Public protests against these issues, he added, have sometimes been met with excessive force by security agencies.
Lavali advocated for carefully structured performance-based incentives to drive better behavior in public institutions, drawing on examples such as Indonesia, where incentive payments to village health workers improved service delivery.
To enhance judicial efficiency, he recommended strategies such as minimizing case backlogs, reducing unnecessary adjournments, rewarding judicial staff for efficiency, and issuing warnings to judges responsible for unjustified case delays.
He also proposed the establishment of a sub-treasury to fund judicial operations, ensuring financial independence from the central government.
For parliamentary reforms, Lavali suggested creating a sub-treasury to enhance legislative autonomy, linking parliamentary oversight functions to performance-based rewards, allocating a constituency development fund for MPs—managed by an independent commission—and introducing penalties for underperforming lawmakers.
“With these measures, we can strengthen watchdog institutions such as parliament and the judiciary, equipping them with the necessary resources and knowledge to function effectively and independently,” Lavali asserted.
Justice Alusine Sesay, who also spoke at the event, commended IGR for its advocacy efforts, noting that it is one of the few civil society organizations championing judicial reforms.
He acknowledged public perceptions of corruption within the judiciary but highlighted the sector’s ongoing challenges, including a shortage of judges, the absence of a digital case management system, and a lack of proper record-keeping infrastructure.
Despite these hurdles, he maintained that the judiciary continues to perform effectively in delivering justice.
