By Aramata Jatta
Members of the National Assembly have yesterday 23rd June 2020 rejected the confirmation of the appointment of Retired Colonel Momodou Njie as a Member of the Gambia Armed Forces Council.
The motion for the confirmation of appointment of Retired Colonel Momodou Ndow-NJie and Yusupha Baboucarr Dibba as members of The Gambia Armed Forces Council tabled by the Hon.Minister for Defence on Tuesday 19th May, 2020 and referred to the Public Appointment Standing Committee as per Standing Order 114 for Scrutiny and advice.
27 MPs voted against Njie’s appointment whilst 22 voted in his favour and Yusupha Baboucarr Dibba’s appointment was approved.
The mandate of these said Council is to advise the President on all matters of policy relating to defence and strategy, including the role of the Armed Forces, defence budgetingand finance, administration, and any other matter which the President may refer to the Council.
Hon. Sulayman Saho NAM for Central Badibou argued that ” we need somebody who is in the system that will able to add value to the system to the work not only to appoint the person . he opined that our security sector needed reforms and the person we are going to appoint must add value to our security reform and he did not think Njie will serve for the purpose”.
According to Hon.Saho the people that should be nominated should have financial background and knowledge in budgeting. He said by looking at Mr Njie’s CV he doesnt see any background any financial back ground in him and idea on budgeting tactic to value.
Hon. Saho asserted that the security force head of the each security is led by a man. He suggested that there should be two on one female to be part of the Vice president as they want the selection to be Gender sensitive.
After declining the Nomination of Njie , Hon.Saho affirmed that “I am fully in support of Dibba’s appointment and my nomination is not based on personnel relationship with him but base on his caliber and the value he will add to this position”.
Nominated Member Hon. Ya Kumba Jaiteh, expressed dissatisfaction over the report of the Committee. She explained that she expected the committee to come up with background information such as who and why the nominees should be appointed, their achievements and legacy in the Arm forces. She said she cannot make any decision based on the committe’s report
As the debate went further, few NAMs suggested that the youths should be given the oppoturnity to also contribute to National development, Hon Sainey Jawara NAM for Lower Saloum said “some of NAM where saying that we should give chance to the young once to come up but how many of them here during their election give chance to the young ones to contest”.
He called upon the old age to retire and give it to the young ones.
“they are 70 and they don’t give chance to young ones and today they are coming here saying we should give chance to young ones”.
NAM for Foni Bondali Hon. Kaddy Camara urged the Assembly to consider both nominees. She argued that the Assembly should not nominate one and reject the other.
She concluded by saying “if you look at the certificate and CV of Mr Dibba I will advise this Assembly to urge Dibba to be on the the agricultural side and advise on matters related to agriculture. But she argued that you cannot say let us appoint Mr.Dibba and reject Mr.Njie we cannot do it as we are all here for the Gambian people but not for our political interest”
After the rejection of Njie’s appointment the Minister of Defense Sheikh Omar Faye amended the motion Dibba be appointed and defer the Appointment ( Njie’s) until when substantial documents are obtained.
