Friday 27 November, 2020 – The National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD) with support from the Ministry of Finance has concluded a nationwide biometric verification of more than 1,000 Chiefdom Functionaries in 190 Chiefdoms across the country.
The targeted Chiefdom Functionaries included Paramount Chiefs, Regent Chiefs, Central Chiefdom Administrative Clerks (CCACs), Assistant Central Chiefdom Administrative Clerks (ACCACs), Relief/Treasury Clerks, Chiefdom Speakers, Sergeants, Sergeant Majors, Chiefdom Police Inspectors, Corporals and more.
The exercise was for NCRA to affirm or confirm the personal details of Chiefdom Functionaries provided by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD) which will lay the basis for an accurate and reliable information on all Chiefdom Functionaries and to create a database by the NCRA to match that of the Accountant General’s Department (AGD). The significance of the verification exercise was also to enable government in identifying the composition of Chiefdom Functionaries as well as sanitize the payroll at the Accountant General’s Department. In addition, the exercise will guarantee an effective and efficient service delivery to the people of this country.
The Biometric Verification of Chiefdom Functionaries will as well inform government about the status of the Chiefdom Functionaries to accurately know those who have reached retirement age and to provide job opportunities for youths across the country.
During his monitoring tour in Kailahun District, the Director of Local Government at the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD), Brima Newman Combey commended NCRA field staff for their untiring effort and sacrifice towards the exercise. He encouraged staff to be professional in the course of discharging their duties, as an efficient and effective work will produce accurate data or information on the whole exercise. “We can’t talk about economic development if those apparatus that should accelerate or facilitate developmental programs are in a shabby situation,” he warned.
Expressing his delight on the verification exercise, the Chiefdom Speaker of Gbanti Chiefdom, Karene District, Pa Umaru Sanu said that the process was laudable as it will help government to know the actual number of Chiefdom Functionaries, and also determine the payment of their backlogs. He appealed to government for the payment of their backlog after the verification exercise.
Similar sentiments were also expressed in other Chiefdoms in the East, South, North and North-West of the country.
The Director General of the National Civil Registration Authority, Mohamed Mubashir Massaquoi visited Port Loko, Makeni, Magburaka and other Districts and said he was very pleased with the turnout of the Chiefdom Functionaries and the NCRA staff for making the exercise a success. He thanked staff for their selfless service and support towards the exercise and by extension his leadership.
He expressed delight over the successful conduct of the entire process, adding that the Authority is on the right track. “Following reports coming from the respective districts including the visits I have personally undertaken to selected areas and the feedback from our Local Government counterparts, I am very pleased with the work done, Mr Massaquoi reported. He assured the NCRA staff that “we are on the right track.”
He encouraged all to continue to be professional and committed to the work of NCRA as always.
The exercise which lasted for 9 days – 18th to the 26th November, 2020 was jointly monitored by staff of NCRA and MLGRD and other stakeholders. The NCRA will compile report on the verified Chiefdom Functionaries for onward submission to the Ministries of Finance and Local Government and Rural Development.
©IEC DIRECTORATE, NCRA
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