Last Minute to the dissolution of the 5th Parliament… MPs Push For Another Welfare Bill

Last Minute to the dissolution of the 5^th Parliament…

MPs Push For Another Welfare Bill

Sierra Leone’s Parliament under the leadership of Dr. Abass Bundu has tabled another Welfare bill entitled Parliament Act 2023 that seeks to benefit the interest of all outgoing Members of the 5^th Parliament.

The bill comes less than few weeks to the dissolution of the 5^th Parliament. Such bill is aimed at providing salaries and others emolument benefits to members of the current Parliament and also accorded certain privileges to the Speaker of Parliament.

The Act, if passed, will enable outgoing Speaker of Parliament to retain an official vehicle, three security personnel provided by the state, and home furniture valued at 50 million Old Leone.

Additionally, the proposed legislation includes a 25% increase in pensions for former Members of Parliament every five years.

This new Parliament Act is a response to the controversial Parliamentary Welfare Act 2022, which was leaked to the media in June 2022 and subsequently disowned by Parliament.

The Parliament Act 2023 has already been gazetted and will be deliberated upon in the pre-legislative meeting.

With the parliamentary term ending soon, the proposed legislation seeks to address the welfare of the outgoing speaker and former members of Parliament, as well as avoid the potential for future scandals such as the leaked Parliamentary Welfare Act.