The New Chief of Defense Staff of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF), Lieutenant General Sullay Ibrahim Sesay has implored the Minister of Finance Jacob Jusu Saffa to look into the condition of personnel serving in the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces, (RSLAF) for consideration for the next budget cycle, noting that it has been a very huge concern for them especially in boosting the morale of personnel.
He made the appeal when he and his team of Generals paid a courtesy visit on Wednesday September 2, 2020, to the Minister of Finance Hon. Jacob Jusu Saffa and his team at the Ministry of Finance, George Street in Freetown.
The Lt. Gen Sulay Sesay raised the issues on Peace Support Operations deployment and equipment, Army Engineering, Training and Recruitment, Agriculture, Accommodation, Health, and other issues for the consideration of the Minister of Finance in the next budget cycle.
In the Meeting the CDS Lt. Gen. Sesay firstly thanked the Minister of Finance and his team for their support to the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) and the security sector in general.
He thanked the team at the Ministry of Finance for fast-tracking the payment of backlogs on rice, fuel, and other items and highlighted several areas of concern that he will want the support of the Ministry of Finance to accomplish for the development of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces.
In his response the Minister of Finance Hon. Jacob Jusu Saffa congratulated the new CDS on his appointment and reassured him of the Ministry’s commitment to work with the Armed Forces to ensure the security of the state.
“Issues regarding the military are very critical to the security of the state and therefore must be given high priority,” he emphasized.
He asked the CDS to work with his team at the Ministry of Finance and look at the financial implications relating to the issues of conditions of service, accommodation, and other issues raised by the Chief of Defense Staff.
The Financial Secretary Sahr L. Jusu described the meeting as an opportunity for the economic and financial expert at the Ministry of Finance and that of the security expert at the Ministry of Defense and the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces to work together. He appealed to the CDS to engage the Ministry of Finance on major procurement before awarding the contract to ensure a smooth payment process.
The team of Generals that visited the Finance Minister includes; Maj-Gen Peter K. Lavahun (CJF), Brig.-Gen Ronnie B. Charleston, Brig-Gen Yayimba Marah, Brig-Gen Saudi Alpha, and Brig-Gen Berber Jalloh.
03/09/2020. ISSUE NO: 7901