By Seedy Jobe
The National Assembly Member for Bundungka Constituency, Hon. Sulayman Jammeh, has defended the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), describing it as one of the few allocations in the national budget that delivers direct benefits to ordinary citizens.
Speaking during an interview on Senn FM’s Fanoketa programme on Monday, May 18, 2026, Hon. Jammeh rejected calls from some quarters to abolish the fund, despite concerns over alleged mismanagement in certain constituencies.
“I would not agree to scrapping it,” he said. “I know some members are saying it should be scrapped, but the way things work for us in the House is different. Not everyone is in the same position.”
He argued that while some lawmakers may have alternative means of supporting their constituencies, others rely heavily on the fund to address community needs.
“If it’s easy for you and you are able to have money, don’t call for it to be scrapped, because there are others who don’t have that,” he said. “This is something that benefits people, and I believe that of our national budget, the D500,000 given to a NAM is the only money I can say will go 100% directly to my people.”
Hon. Jammeh acknowledged concerns raised in audit reports regarding projects that were funded but never implemented or utilized. He disclosed that he had raised these issues with the Clerk of the National Assembly.
“If a national assembly member lobbies for something, and it is implemented and delivered but not used, then if they come back asking for the same thing, I don’t understand it. How can you lobby for something for your people, take it, install it, and leave it unused? That means you didn’t do a proper needs assessment,” he said.
He further clarified that funds under the CDF are not disbursed directly to lawmakers. Instead, National Assembly Members submit project proposals through an established process, after which procurement and implementation are handled by the Office of the Clerk.
“The cash is not given to the NAM directly,” he explained. “You propose the project, they give you a form, you list the projects you want, and you submit it to the office of the clerk. They are the ones who handle all the procurement.”
Hon. Jammeh maintained that, despite its challenges, the Constituency Development Fund remains a critical tool for grassroots development and should be strengthened rather than abolished.
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