By Kemo Kanyi
Concern Citizens, a youth group rising against the Judicial Officers and National Assembly salaries and pensions Bills, has written a petition to the National Assembly of the Gambia outlining some key demands for the National Assembly Members to discuss and act upon.
The Judicial Officers and National Assembly salaries and pensions Bills suffered widespread condemnation from Gambians of all works of life, including human rights activists and politicians.
The petition was received by Honourable Fabakary TombongJatta, the speaker of the National Assembly.
Lamin Manneh, delivering the statement on behalf of the group, specified eight key demands for the consideration of the National Assembly.
“Withdrawal of the National Assembly salaries and pensions Bill, withdrawal of Judicial Officers Bill and other entitlements, fair compensation for all public servants, equitable allocation of national resources, accountability for National Assembly Members, promotion of social justice, National Assembly Members to engage electorates before passing any Bill, and introduction of new pay scale,” Mr Manneh specified.
He enjoined the National Assembly Members to respect the demands of the citizens, failure to which will surely lead to further protests nationwide.
“If the National Assembly fails to attend to our demands, we shall organise a nationwide protest and continue to protest against these bills until our demands are met by the servants of the people. We are concerned with the lives of ordinary Gambians. We are not in any way fighting against any institutions but fighting for justice, especially economic justice. We believe that NAMs are servants of the people, and we believe that you will critically look into our demands to respect the will of the concerned citizens,” he cited.
MC Cham Junior, a politician, said he is not against any salary increment, but it has to be effected across every civil service sector. He called on the NAMs to vote against the bills for the interest of all Gambians.
