ouyi Building, Freetown, 4 November, 2025- The Minister of Local Government and Community Affairs, Ambassador Tamba Lamina, has directed that the long-delayed transfer of council staff across the country should take immediate effect, describing the delay as a major obstacle to effective local governance and service delivery.
Speaking during a high-level meeting held in Freetown with representatives from the Local Government Service Commission, the Local Councils Association of Sierra Leone (LoCASL), and other senior government officials, Minister Lamina emphasized that the ministry would not tolerate further stagnation in the system.
“This period of stagnation cannot continue. The postings that were announced three months ago will start, and by the cost of law, the body responsible for the movement of staff between councils is the Local Government Service Commission,” Minister Lamina asserted. “Any changes to that decision will undermine the integrity of the institution.”
The Minister explained that the transfers were informed by investigations and recommendations following a complaint that originated in the Kailahun District Council, which led to staff suspensions and administrative disruptions. According to him, some of the affected staff could not be reinstated to their former councils due to broken relationships, prompting the need for reassignment to other districts.
He noted that although some political heads of councils expressed dissatisfaction over the recent postings, the decision was made in line with established guidelines and after careful review of each case.
He emphasized that systems should be designed and built to ensure long-term sustainability rather than being centered around individuals. Any system built around individuals, he cautioned, cannot stand the test of time. While acknowledging that the implementation of ongoing programmes will be considered during staff postings, he underscored the importance of properly inducting new staff to promote continuity and minimize disruptions.
During the meeting, Dr. Emmanuel A.R. Gaima, Principal Executive Adviser to the President on Public Service and Head of the Public Sector Reform Unit, called for respect for institutional structures and the rule of law. He cautioned the Local Government Service Commission to improve its operational effectiveness, noting that its core mandate is to support the Ministry, not to act against it.
“The commission must brace up. What is happening makes one ask whether it is adequately organized to deliver on its mandate,” Dr. Gaima said. “If the commission were fully functioning as expected, these issues would not be arising.”
In his intervention, Sahr Ahmed Laikonjor Lamin, President of LoCASL and Chairman of the Kailahun District Council, clarified that their organization was not against transfers in principle but opposed what he described as “indiscriminate postings” that disrupt local operations. He highlighted challenges in own-source revenue mobilization and working relationships between council heads and their administrative staff.
“Service delivery depends on the resources we receive and the cooperation within our councils,” Bindi stated. “We want a straight system, but before implementing transfers, the ministry should listen to our side of the story.”
Other mayors and district chairmen at the meeting echoed similar concerns, citing strained relationships with Chief Administrators and calling for the Ministry’s intervention to restore stability.
In closing, Minister Lamina assured council leaders that the Ministry would review each of their cases individually but urged them to cooperate in implementing the transfers, which he said were essential to restoring functionality and improving service delivery across the country.
For more details:
Frederick V. Kanneh
Information Officer
MLGCA
