Sharp Rise in Chief Minister’s Budget Sparks Debate

By Musa Paul Feika

The supplementary budget tabled in Parliament by Minister of Finance Sheku Fantamadi Bangura has sparked controversy, particularly over the significant increase in the allocation for the Chief Minister’s Office, currently headed by David Moininia Sengeh. Hon. Aaron Aruna Koroma, opposition leader in the Sixth Parliament, raised serious concerns about the jump in expenditure from 21 million to 35 million leones.

Hon. Koroma questioned the justification for this increase, urging the government to clarify whether these additional funds would contribute to building schools and other vital infrastructure projects. He emphasized that if the country’s economy were truly improving, ordinary citizens should feel the impact, especially through better wages. He noted, for example, that the price of a cup of rice remains stubbornly high at 5 leones.

During his address on Tuesday, 29th, in Parliament, Hon. Koroma also criticized the supplementary budget for neglecting the agricultural sector, warning that ignoring this key area would have negative ripple effects on other sectors, including education. He further highlighted that some Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) had yet to receive any approved funding from Parliament.

Leader of Government Business Hon. Sahr Mathew Nyuma urged Hon. Koroma to substantiate his claims with clear reasons for the budget changes, rather than making broad accusations. Nyuma defended the current financial management, noting the government’s success in reducing inflation to 7.1%, down from much higher rates under previous administrations.

The Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Sengepoh Solomon Thomas, advised Finance Minister Bangura to respond comprehensively to the opposition’s concerns. Supporting the government’s position, Hon. Mustapha Musa Sellu attributed the drop in inflation to disciplined fiscal policies.

In his response, Minister Bangura explained that the increase in the Chief Minister’s Office budget was linked to the ongoing Constitutional Review process. He assured Parliament that he had taken note of the feedback and pledged to address the concerns in the next budget cycle.