The new Commission of Inquiry set up by President Barrow will investigate all the local councils over their staff numbers  and salaries, paid advisers, loans and procurements as well as partnership agreements with private companies. 

“The Commission is authorised to investigate the increment of salaries and allowances of staff and elected officials, of a Local Government between the period May 2018 and January 2023 and ascertain whether such increments were done in line with applicable procedures and laws,” the government said in a statement.

“The general staffing situation of a Local Government Council and ascertain whether-a Council is over staffed; and such staff were employed in accordance with applicable policies, procedures and, laws, as to whether a Local Government Council has the following management tools-strategic plan; establishment register fixed assets register, financial manual; training and information technology policies and standing orders.

“The general institutional arrangement and process of a Local Government Council, and to ascertain whether policy makers such as Mayor, Mayoress, Chairperson and Councilor are directly or indirectily involved in policy implementation as to the day to day operations and management of a Council, has an Internal Audit Unit, Procurement Unit and Information Technology, all funded projects have followed applicable
procedures and were properly audited.”

The statement continued that “all major contracts including procurement
contracts that were entered into by a Councl
between the period of May 2018 and January2023, have followed applicable procedures and laws, and a all public private partnership agreements that were entered into by a Council between the period of May 2018 and January 2023 have benefited the Council and the public.

“All appointments on contract between the period May 2018 and January 2023 by a Local Government Council and ascertain whether such appointments and their remunerations are in line with applicable policies, procedures and laws.”

“The creation of all advisory positions between the period May 2018 and January 2023 by a Local Government Council and ascertain whether such advisers were recruited in line with applicable policies, procedures and laws; and the remunerations of such advisers were properly applied to budgeted and lawful purposes,” the statement added. 

The Commission of Inquiry will be chaired Jainaba Bah Sambou. 

Other members of the commission include former mayor Samba Faal, Oreme E. Joiner, Imam Baba M. Leigh and Sukai Secka Sagnia.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba