By: Mariama Njie
The National Assembly select committee on Regional Government, Land, Ombudsman and IEC has held talks with stakeholders over multimillion dalasis request by Kanifing Municipal Council.
The meeting brought together officials from Kanifing Municipal Council, Ministry of Lands and Ministry of Finance. The KMC demanded a sum of GMD 42, 2900, 161-million-dalasi subvention.
Speaking at the meeting Musa Amul Nyassi, chairperson of the committee said: “we received a letter from the Knifing Municipal Council and the letter is here with me which prompted this meeting as a result we had it as an agenda item.”
“Request for subvention at the Kanifing Municipal Counsel draft approve 2021 annual budget, the above caption refer as per general counsel resolution, we wish to inform you that we request for GMD 42,2900,161 million dalasi been subvention to the physical year 2021 in accordance with 2004 Local Government Finance and Audit Act has been summit accordingly.
It was interesting to know that counsel have not been receiving the required subvention to enable us deliver tasks in the municipality since we came to office in 2018. In view of the above we humbly request for support to ensure that government pay to counsel the above sum,” he read out the request letter to the meeting.
Sainabou Martin Sonko, CEO of Kanifing Municipal Council said: “as rightly mention in the request letter, the request for the subvention is in line with the Local Government Finance and Audit Act. It is required that 25% of our development budget be sub vented by the Central Government.”
She said, in their 2021 budget for 2021 certain projects were identify, namely the KMC road network project which is a massive project for the council.
“We have identified certain projects that we mark to develop when this subvention is approved by government 2021budge. The COVID-19 1 pandemic has negative impact on operations and revenue collection. From our engagement with the select committee for the past few months we were encourage to have our budget prepare and, in the budget, we have this potion for development and the 25% amounts to GMD 42, 2900,161, 15 bututs million dalasi.
This is the amount we are requesting so that we can go ahead with the selected development projects for the municipality and other project that will compliment government effort such as municipal library, we have plan to build library and we suggested the Buffa zone,” she explained.
According to her, they decided to write to the select committee because they realize that they are the body that is responsible for coordinating the issues of the local authorizes regarding their relationship with the central government. So, I don’t think we are wrong making the request, she added.
Buba Sanyang, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Land, Regional Government said: “I think we need to put into context and understand what is meant by government given subvention because is a constitutional requirement and cannot be compromise, but then it is not for council 60% development. Council has put their project base on their 60% to do their development that does not include the 25% government is going to give them. We have to understand our act to avoid putting our hopes on something that might not be achieved.”