By Mahamood Fofana
The Chairman of the Bombali District Council (BDC), Dr. Mohamed Mark Baba Sisay, has urged the government to settle all outstanding financial arrears owed to local councils before presenting what he described as “sugar-coated” promises for the 2026 national budget.
Speaking exclusively to this medium, Dr. Sisay said the government’s rhetoric about economic progress no longer matches the reality on the ground, especially for local councils struggling to operate without central government transfers.
He stated that while the 2026 budget projections appear hopeful on paper, the Ministry of Finance should first honor its obligations for the 2025 financial year.
“We are looking forward to a better 2026 as projected, but our backlog for 2025 must be cleared first so we do not face the same constraints again,” Dr. Sisay told Provincial Times.
Despite the financial strain, he explained that local councils have survived largely through their own internal revenue mobilization efforts. He noted that if the council had depended solely on government allocations, 2025 would have been a disaster.
“Our internally generated revenue is what kept us afloat. That is why we continue to motivate our people to comply with taxation so we can sustain council activities,” he said.
Dr. Sisay also highlighted staffing concerns, particularly the rising wage bill projected at NLe 7.9 billion for 2026 — a 9.72% increase from the previous year. He expressed uncertainty about whether local council workers are included in the government’s broader salary increment for public servants.
“I don’t know if staff in local councils fall within the salary increment package, but I hope this time we are included,” he added.
