Government to Withhold Salaries, Vehicles, and Benefits from APC Council Leaders Amid Boycott
7 April, 2026
The Minister of Local Government and Community Affairs, Tamba Lamina, has announced that the government will take firm action against council officials from the All People’s Congress (APC) who continue to boycott their duties, warning that salaries, official vehicles, and other benefits will be withdrawn if they fail to return to work.
Speaking on Radio Democracy 98.1 FM, the Minister described the boycott as both illegal and harmful to citizens, stressing that elected officials have a responsibility to deliver essential services. He noted that council leaders who abandon their roles effectively render themselves redundant and deny their constituents the services they voted for.
Citing provisions of the Local Government Act 2022, the Minister explained that councils are mandated to meet regularly and ensure continuous service delivery. He emphasized that the government will not allow governance to stall due to political disagreements, adding that Chief Administrators have been directed to step in and maintain operations in the absence of political heads.
The Minister further disclosed that steps are already underway to enforce these measures, including engaging the Ministry of Finance and the Attorney General’s office to unblock council funds and ensure continuity in local governance.
Beyond the boycott issue, he highlighted broader efforts by the ministry, including ongoing reviews of decentralization policies and laws, plans for the creation of new districts based on available census data, and the successful conduct of numerous paramount chieftaincy elections. He also noted that reforms to the Chieftaincy Act are being considered to address gender equality, boundary disputes, and conflicts within chiefdoms.
Reaffirming government’s commitment, the Minister concluded that service delivery will continue uninterrupted, regardless of political actions, as the welfare of citizens remains the top priority.
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Frederick V Kanneh
Senior Information Officer
MLGCA
