By: Joseph Momoh, Reporter
Freetown – In a decisive move to address chronic power outages and allegations of fuel mismanagement, Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas, alongside Deputy Speaker Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh, inspected a newly installed 5,000-liter automated fuel station designed to power Parliament’s generator.
The state-of-the-art system, installed by NP-SL, is directly connected to the generator. Speaker Thomas hailed this development as a significant step toward enhancing accountability in fuel consumption and eliminating the recurrent issues of fuel shortages.
“For too long, fuel shortages have disrupted Parliamentary operations, with frequent claims of insufficient fuel despite budget allocations. This system will allow us to monitor consumption effectively and uncover any malpractices,” Speaker Thomas stated. He highlighted instances where Parliament experienced outages due to fuel shortages, despite assurances from generator staff that fuel had been supplied. This situation prompted the leadership to seek a permanent solution through NP-SL’s installation of the automated system.
The Speaker emphasized that the initiative aims not only to end disruptions but also to reduce the financial burden of unchecked fuel demands, which had previously diverted funds intended for other Parliamentary services. “With this 5,000-liter fuel tank in place, Parliament can now precisely measure fuel usage, detect discrepancies, and take corrective action against any corruption in fuel administration,” Speaker Thomas added.
Confidently, he declared that under his leadership, the problem of fuel shortages in Parliament had been “permanently buried” and would not resurface.
This initiative represents a significant shift in addressing inefficiencies in Parliament’s power management, with the automated fuel system expected to enhance operational stability and transparency.
