The General Council of Kanifing Municipal Council has approved four hundred and thirty-eight million dalasi (D438 million), 2023 development budget earmarked for construction of roads, markets development, procurement of Municipal transports, and environmental sanitation among other priority areas.
A statement obtained on Sunday revealed that the General Council also approved a 30 percent salary increment for all staff at the council effective from 1st September 2022, in line with the National Assembly’s approval of a 30 percent salary increment for all government workers on 28th July 2022.
According to the statement, forty million dalasis (D40 Million) of the amount is allocated to each ward for the construction of the municipality’s 38 kilometers road network within the KMC for the next five years.
The statement further revealed that the Kanifing Environmental Transformation Project (KETP) and the Slum Development Project (PSUP) will consume D98 million plus an additional D190 million that will finance environmental matters up to 2024, adding that the environmental budget will build 10 community waste transfer stations, 7 community parks, the building of Ebotown Market as well as procurement of skip bins, waste collection tricycles.
“Council has also set aside D98 million for the procurement of 16 service vehicles including septic emptiers, waste compactor trucks, and service vehicles at the tune of D10 million, noting that Council will also inject 10 million each year for 5 years with an additional budget of D190 earmarked for to procure service vehicles for the council for 5 years.
It has a budget of D10 million subvention for Kanifing Municipal Transport (KMT) for 2023 with an additional D10 million budget line for 5 years, adding that this budget will help the council to buy up to 50 buses for the Kanifing Municipal Transport plus twenty new roads that will aggregate the sum to D250 million investments,” the statement said.
The General Council also approved a D10 million subvention for Kanifing Municipal Market (KMM) plus a 5years addition annual subvention of D10 million, adding D280 million will be spent during the next 5 years to build markets in Faji Kunda, Abuko, Bundung Jolakunda, Serrakunda Mbari Pa Dembo, Serrekunda Tippa Garage, Fajara Fruit Market and Bakau plus an additional D50 million subsidy that will go for 5years at the tune of D10 million per year.
The General Council under the Chairmanship of Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda disclosed that the budget passed will ensure quality development in all areas including waste management, and social service among others while putting more emphasis on infrastructural development.
In the same vain, Council informed the general public that effective 1st September 2022, Kanifing Municipal Council has implemented the 30 percent salary increment as approved by the National Assembly on 28th July 2022, noting that the decision is anchored on Council priority in motivating and retaining council staff as well as enhancing staff performance.