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Momodou
Denmark
11737 Posts |
 Posted - 06 Jan 2007 : 17:58:38
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HALIFA’S CONTRIBUTION TO THE DEBATE ON THE NATIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION BILL
By Abdoulie Dibba
In his contribution to the bill, the Minority Leader and Member for Serrekunda Central Honourable Halifa Sallah said development is about strategic objectives being translated into policies, programmes and projects. He argued that the vital thing is for one to be able to evaluate what one is doing periodically in order to find out whether the strategic objectives are being attained or not. He said this evaluation mechanism is inconceivable without a planning body.
Halifa pointed out that there is absolute need to create such an institution since there are plans associated with the Millennium Development Goals and the Poverty Reduction and Growth Programme that is being negotiated with certain institutions, which also require the achievement of certain goals. “Therefore the development of an institution that would be goal oriented is absolutely necessary, and in line with what is desirable. What is important is to look at the structures being created, the institution being created to examine whether they can serve the very purpose for which they are being created,” he said. Looking at the functions of the Commission, Halifa said one will discover that “they are to: -
a) Formulate comprehensive national development strategies and policies and ensure that the strategies influence the plans of the implementing agencies;
b) Coordinate the preparation and implementation of the multi-year rolling plans for The Gambia, including the five-year Medium Term Plan and the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper.”
Halifa therefore asserted that “the Commission is responsible for formulating strategies and working out plans for their implementation. He indicated that Clause 4 reads: the commission shall consist of:-
a) A full time chairperson;
b) Secretary of state for Finance & Economic Affairs;
c) Secretary of State For Trade, Industry and Employment;
d) Secretary General Office of the President;
e) The governor of the Central Bank of the Gambia;
f) The President of the Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry;
g) A representative of the Gambia Association of Local Government Authorities;
h) A Director General of the Commission who shall also be the Secretary to the
Commission; and
i) Two other members
He further observed that the Commission also plays an advocacy role and that its function is very comprehensive.
When reviewing its composition, Halifa expressed the need for some explanation as to why the composition was in such a nature. He questioned how much time the members would have to perform the function of the commission. He also cited that under clause 20 (1), a mechanism has been created where the commission shall establish the following Directorates:-
a) Directorate of Economic policy, analysis and management;
b) Directorate of Development, planning implementation and coordination;
c) Directorate of Research, Monitoring and Evaluation;
d) Directorate of Finance and Administration;
e) Such other Directorate as it may require for the proper functioning of the commission.
Halifa then argued that he would like to imagine that these are going to be the technocrats who would be doing the actual work that is expected under the functions of the commission. He said what he cannot comprehend is that since the people who are going to be part of the commission would not actually make policy how efficient then is it for these technocrats to do the work and then pass it on to a commission comprising mainly of Cabinet members and who in turn would finally forward everything to the whole cabinet for decision. He said he would want to know why this is considered to be the appropriate composition for the commission. He observed that what is significant is that the Commission would do its work and would report annually to the National Assembly; that it states under Clause 24 that the commission shall report to the president and the president shall as soon as possible after receiving the annual report cause it to be laid before the National Assembly. So he said: “We have the power of scrutiny. What ever happens in its first year, we should be able to look at and see whether it is actually achieving the purpose for which it was intended.” On the issue of directives to the councils, Halifa said that the commission should not give guidelines and directives to the councils and argued that the commission should be a technical unit helping national and local institutions to do things in a proper manner so that facts would dictate the types of policies we are going to have which in turn would dictate the type of programmes and projects necessary to address the issue of sustainable economic development.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issues
Issue No. 001/2007, 3-4 January, 2007
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