By : Sandally Sawo
The Administrative Secretary of the GDC, Mr. Ebrima Nyang, has described the Judicial Officers’ Remuneration Bill as discriminatory and an insult to Gambians.
A fortnight ago, the attorney general and minister of justice Mr. Dawda Jallow presented to the National Assembly the Judicial Officers’ Remuneration Bill, crafted to enhance the salaries and benefits of judges and judicial officers, a move that generated a social media storm with Gambians both at home and in the Diaspora, calling for its rejection. Economist Morro Gaye was among the first Gambians, who called for the jettisoning of the bill because according to the top economist, the bill could have cascading effects on other arms of government with debilitating economic consequences.
According to Mr. Gaye, the Gambia government is in dire financial straits and cannot afford another round of salary improvement.
“The controversy surrounding the ‘Judicial Officers Remuneration Bill’, which aims to increase the salaries, allowances and pensionable benefits of judicial officers, currently before the National Assembly, should be reviewed within the context of addressing the growing discrepancies within the government integrated pay scale for the executive, the judiciary and the legislature,” stated Mr. Gaye in an interview with this medium.
The GDC’s Nyang also waded into the public discourse over the Judicial Officers’ Remuneration Bill, describing it as an insult to the citizens.
‘’This bill is nothing but an insult to the Gambian people. The other sectors are suffering with little pay, which can barely meet their monthly bills. The judiciary needs to be contented with the good pay they are enjoying compared to other sectors,’’ Nyang said in a write-up made available to this medium.
According to him, the justice minister never championed the interest of other sectors of the economy but chose to place special emphasis on the judiciary to ‘’help it rob’’ poor Gambians.
‘’We have the teachers, the security forces, the health sector etcetera and all these employees are struggling with bad pay and why can you just direct your energy to these sectors to help them in partnership with their various ministers? The current economic situation in this country is known to everyone and the majority of Gambians are poorly paid and couldn’t settle fortheir monthly bill,’’ stated Nyang, wondering whether the justice minister is only representing the interest of the judiciary or the entire country. He added :
‘’This bill was thrown out by the National Assembly Members and now they want to bring the same bill for a second trial after believing that they have cornered the majority of the MPs to see it through.
‘’To the National Assembly, the whole world is watching you and I am sure you will not betray the Gambian people and the trust your people repose in you. Gambians voted for you to defend and shape the future of this country and not to be used as a weapon by the Judiciary to attain their financial target.
‘’The National Assembly Members were celebrated the last time you threw this irresponsible bill and we are expecting the same energy. The National Assembly should not be taken for a ride and only bills that are of interest to The Gambian people should be entertained.’’
He implored MPs not to allow themselves ‘’to be cornered for no reason because all of you have a legacy to protect and at all cost, you should not trade it for anything’’.
Nyang said economically-hard-hit-Gambians have reposed all their hopes in the legislature as, in his words, the executive had failed the citizens.
‘’The Executive has failed us and that is why this bill will be taken to the National Assembly. We have a government that has no interest in the masses and wants to manipulate the House to attain its objective. I call on you [NAMs] all to do the right thing for the future of this country and we are hopeful we will not be disappointed. This bill belongs to the dustbin,’’ concluded Nyang.
