By Shadrach Aziz Kamara
The Legislative Committee of the Parliament of Sierra Leone, chaired by Hon. Abdul S.M. Conteh, has concluded a robust and insightful working session focused on reviewing and strengthening the country’s proposed Physical Planning and Land Use Management legislation. The session, which included technical consultations and live clause-by-clause scrutiny, aimed at refining institutional frameworks and enhancing policy coordination across national, regional, district, and local levels.
Key among the discussions was the composition, structure, and mandate of the National Physical Planning Committee, as well as its subordinate regional and local planning committees. Members of Parliament (MPs) examined how these bodies would collaborate to prepare and implement land use master plans that reflect the country’s development goals while ensuring compliance with planning standards and disaster risk reduction strategies.
Hon. Conteh emphasized the importance of harmonizing legislation with practical governance realities:
“Planning is not just a document exercise; it must reflect the needs of citizens, councils, and ministries alike. We must embed coordination and accountability in these legal provisions.”
The committee reached consensus on ensuring better representation from local councils, civil society organizations, environmental experts, and private sector stakeholders. Significant adjustments were made to the structure of regional and district planning bodies, such as allowing District Council Chairpersons to serve as lead chairs in relevant jurisdictions, while Mayors will play co-chair roles where applicable.
To avoid administrative ambiguity, legislators agreed to specify relevant ministries and departments at each level such as Environment, Works, Agriculture, and Water Resources as members of district-level committees, replacing the previous generic “any other member” language.
The MPs also underscored the importance of monitoring and evaluation. All local councils will be mandated to submit regular progress reports outlining achievements, strategies, challenges, and compliance with both national and district planning regulations. Furthermore, the bill mandates stronger public awareness and participation, allowing communities to contribute to and benefit from local planning decisions.
Revenue-sharing clauses also received attention, with debates centering on how internally generated funds (IGR) from planning activities should be allocated. Proposals currently under review suggest a split between the Ministry of Lands, local councils, and the national treasury, ensuring sustainability of planning projects while preventing central overreach.
In closing, Hon. Conteh praised the collaborative nature of the review process:
“This is not just a legislative text; it is a blueprint for orderly development, disaster resilience, and environmental stewardship in Sierra Leone.”
The final version of the bill is expected to be tabled in Parliament in the coming weeks, after harmonization with related laws such as the NDMA Act and existing land use policies. Stakeholders from the Ministry of Lands, Environment, and Local Government, as well as civil society actors, are expected to contribute to the final drafting process.
This legislation, once passed, will be a cornerstone in Sierra Leone’s long-term vision of sustainable spatial planning, national development, and climate adaptation.
