By Sheriff Conteh
Former Minister of Finance, Amadou Sanneh on Sunday said he agreed with the submissions of the National Assembly Member for Banjul South Touma Njai for saying it is ‘shameful’ for National Assembly to bring the kind of proposal they recommended.
Former Minister of Finance, Amadou Sanneh on Sunday said he agreed with the submissions of the National Assembly Member for Banjul South Touma Njai for saying it is ‘shameful’ for National Assembly to bring the kind of recommendations they did.
Honourable Njai’s comment came following the National Assembly’s recommendation to increase the salaries of the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Majority Leader, Minority Leader and the other lawmakers.
Mr Sanneh, during his appearance on GTTV’s weekly ‘Bankola Kuwo’ program frowned at this move by the legislative house saying it is illogical. The lawmakers have proposed over 100% increment for the Speaker and very high increment for others in the legislative house.
“It is so crazy. It is illogical,” he said.
He said the legislatures have the responsibility to put a check on the Executive and thereby protect the country.
“But if this is coming from the National Assembly, then it’s a disgrace. And I agreed with Touma that it’s shameful that National Assembly brought this kind of proposal,” Sanneh said.
Sanneh mentioned that Touma Njai was saying the truth which in the view of others was bitter.
‘’I didn’t see any pretense in what she was saying because what she stated is the truth. Truth is bitter; everybody is seeing it. What these people gave themselves is like placing Gambia’s cake in front of everybody then they say let us take it first while they are the ones who should approve,” Sanneh said.
Sanneh asked why didn’t they increase farmers’ budget to more than hundred percent adding the legislatures decided to reduce over a hundred million dalasis from it while seventy five (75%) percent of the people are farmers.
Sanneh said the Gambians should reject the budget. He stated that the agricultural sector is crumbling. He pointed out that we recently lost 70 plus children through AKI.
He said the Government should be thinking about that. He added that after the occurrence of the big disaster (AKI), they did not bring quality drugs and they did not do expenditure that will bring about quality control.
“They went on to reduce the sector’s budget for drugs and supply which is ridiculous,” he said.
