MONROVIA: The Minister of Internal Affairs (MIA) Mr. Francis Sakila Nyumalin, Sr. has called on the national Legislature to allocate increased budgetary support to the various Counties in the country. He said allocation of increased budgetary support should also include Districts and chiefdoms and must be done through the Internal Affairs Ministry.
Minister Nyumalin made statement yesterday in Kakata City in Margibi County, at the start of a three days onboarding training for staff and the launch of the county Development Planning Units.
The training which is being held under the Theme: “Building New Liberia through Decentralization” brings together stakeholders from Lofa, Gbarpolu, Bong, Grand Bassa and Nimba Counties among others.
The Internal Affairs Minister statement was contained in a speech delivered on his behalf by the Deputy Minister for Research, Development and Planning at the Internal Affairs Ministry Mr. Edward Mulbah.
According to him, the ideal budget for the Internal Affairs Ministry for this fiscal year is estimated at $46 million United States dollars but the draft budget carries $25, million United States dollars.
“We are kindly appealing to the national legislature to setup the Ministry’s budget to accelerate the decentralization programs.” He said.
He said there are 350 local government appointees and officials including chiefs that are still not on payroll adding that “this government inherited a significate percentage of this number but, as government we need to address these challenges” he said.
He challenged stakeholders at the three days onboarding training program to be focus on strategic and inclusive priorities of the counties and work toward strengthening institutional capacity to enhance system of accountability and implement project that will yield tangible results.
He also challenged the stakeholders to engage in transformative results, advance decentralization initiatives and find innovative ways to solve problems.
“Let us ensure cohesive approach in doing all of these which are grounded in the principal of inclusivity, ownership , leadership and sustainability” he said.
According to him, the government is deliberate about its development for which program-based planning and budgeting are paramount to ensure positive impact on the citizens.
“ We must ensure that our development effects true ownership and involvement of all the people, not a selected few and also prioritize and implement programs that will focus on transformative change that shows value to changing lives. “he said.
He encouraged the participates to work to inspire trust and confidence in the citizens stressing that” let them get to know that their government is working for them”.
He pointed out that the Internal Affairs Ministry have the entire frameworks in place to make this happen because they have the local government Act of 2018,, the Revenue Sharing Law of 2022 and its regulation that will shortly to be supported by the appointment of the Fiscal Board and the bill seeking to establish the ministry of local government.
“ We must have the local structures in place which include, the county Council, National Council of Chiefs, County Service centers, Recruitment of the County Service Coordinators which is being finalized” he said.
He indicated that the World Bank is supporting the project to digitalize all the 15 counties service centers that will help to raise more revenue for the government.
He emphasized that, 42% of the revenue generated by the centers will remain there for operation and signatories of Miniseries and Agencies and commissions operating in the counties will also be delegates to their representatives at these centers to accelerate real time service delivery.
