While APC Continues Boycott… Govt Empowers Chief Administrators As Vote Controllers
The Government of Sierra Leone has announced urgent administrative measures aimed at safeguarding service delivery in local councils governed by the All People’s Congress (APC), amid growing concerns over financial oversight and administrative continuity.
In an official communication dated April 1, 2026, the Ministry of Finance revealed that the decision follows a detailed review of issues raised by the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs, alongside a legal opinion issued by the Office of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice.
At the center of the directive is the elevation of Chief Administrators within APC-led councils, who are now formally recognized as “A” signatories. This designation empowers them to act as vote controllers and administrative heads, granting them authority over key financial processes.
The legal opinion, authored by the Solicitor General on March 24, 2026, clarified that Chief Administrators already possess the mandate to authorize transactions within the Public Financial Management (PFM) Smart System. However, under the new measures, such authority must be exercised with prior approval from the Accountant-General.
The Ministry of Finance confirmed that this approval has been duly obtained, effectively clearing the way for Chief Administrators to oversee and authorize financial transactions within their respective councils.
Officials say the move is anchored in provisions of the Local Government Act 2022, the Public Financial Management Act 2016, and the Public Financial Management Regulations 2018, underscoring the government’s commitment to legality and due process.
The intervention is widely seen as a strategic effort by the central government to reinforce accountability, ensure transparency, and prevent disruptions in essential services across APC-controlled councils.
As implementation begins, attention will likely shift to how these measures impact local governance dynamics and the balance of administrative authority within Sierra Leone’s decentralized system.
