By Mustapha E. Dumbuya
The National Assets and Government’s Property Commission has on Monday 13 March, 2023 updated journalists on the Commission’s success and challenges at its head office in New England Ville Freetown.
The Commissioner for the National Assets and Government’s Property Commission (NAGPC) Abu Hindolo Maseray said that the Commission is an Agency under the office of the President, established by an act of Parliament in 1990.
According to him, this has made provisions for the control and identification of all national assets and government Property as well provide for the maintenance and improvement of such property; for the monitoring of their use or disposal and connected purposes.
The Commissioner stated that there has been neglect in the management of government assets throughout the country.
“Government entities have failed in respect of their responsibilities to report and update the Commission on the status of government assets under their purview”, he revealed.
He continued that there have been many instances whereby public property has been deliberately destroyed, damaged, or stolen by members of the general public. According to him Public assets has been sold or disposed of without prior consultation with the NAGPC as required by law.
The commissioner noted many assets have not been suitably safeguarded and maintained resulting in short lifespans and high maintenance costs of government property.
“As part of efforts to mitigate these issues and to fulfill the overall mandate of the Commission, I believe that the Fixed Asset Policy Framework will signal a turning point in the management of government assets nationwide. The development of a comprehensive, valid, accurate, and complete national fixed asset register will require significant commitment and compliance by all MDAS”, the commissioner explained.
He pointed that the Commission was also tasked by the Government’s Medium Term National Development Plan to develop a Fixed Asset Policy and a National Fixed Asset Register containing a comprehensive list of all government fixed assets.
“On behalf of the Board and Management of the Commission, and myself, let me acknowledge with gratitude the Office of the President, the Ministry of Finance, the Office of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, the ACC and the Sierra Leone Police for their support throughout. Without their support, a lot of things would probably not have been achievable for the Commission”, Mr Moseray said.
The Chairman underscored that as a Commission with a New Direction, they are poised to rebrand the National Assets and Government Property Commission (NAGPC) towards the ultimate development of the National Assets Policy and Fixed Assets Register containing a comprehensive list of all state assets.
He pointed out that the government of Sierra Leone has 58 villas under the supervision of his commission and 2 of these villas are currently managed by the Chinese.
The Executive Secretary for the National Assets and Government’s Property Commission (NAGPC) Victor V. Kamara explained that the commission is challenged with Human Resources as the Act had clearly given the mandate to the Commission to recruit supporting staff to efficiently and effectively carry out the work of the commission.
Mr Kamara also said that the no.-compliance has also been a challenged as Article 5 (2&.3) of the NAGPC Act No. 2 of 1990 stated that there shall be no acquisition or holding and, no disposal of any assets or government property by any Agency or government department without prior consultation with the Commission.
He expressed that there are still conversions of government assets to personal property and disposal of state assets without consultation or involvement of the Commission are of significant concern to the Commission.
According to him other challenges include budget and logistics which are also key for the running of the commission and further advised the Ministry of Finance to ensure timely disbursement of budgetary allocations.
