By Buba Gagigo
The Central Government has summoned officials of the Brikama Area Council (BAC) to appear before the Ministry of Local Government and Lands on Tuesday, May 6, amid ongoing tensions over the Council’s efforts to assess and document its revenue sources.
In a statement issued ahead of the meeting, BAC maintained that its assessment initiative is fully aligned with the Local Government Finance and Audit Act of 2004. The Council stressed that the exercise does not seek to impose new tax rates, but rather aims to fulfill a statutory obligation to compile a comprehensive inventory of revenue streams.
“The back and forth over the assessment of our revenue sources with the Ministry of Local Government & Lands continues,” the Council said. “As we are summoned to answer to the Ministry tomorrow, Tuesday 6th May 2025. Acting under the statutory frameworks of the Local Government, the Council is embarking on an assessment of our revenue sources within its jurisdiction with an aim to fulfill Section 21 (3) of the Local Government Finance and Audit Act 2004 which reads; “Each Council Shall Prepare a Comprehensive List of all its Revenue Sources and Maintain Data on total Potential Collectable Revenues.” BAC said.
To address the misconceptions surrounding what they describe as a legally sanctioned mandate process, BAC clarified that the process is not aimed at evaluating or determining a new payable tax ceiling.
“Since we are aware of Councils’ lacks of jurisdiction to appoint an evaluator who shall determine a new payable tax ceiling. We are solely and entirely relying on our 2020 gazetted tariff to collect revenue in all sectors. It’s unfortunate that our line Ministry is deliberately failing to recognize and encourage our efforts by resolving to impede the progressive trend the Brikama Area Council recently premised on,” BAC said.
Additionally, BAC stated that it is a requirement for the Central Government, through the Ministry of Local Government and Lands, to appoint an evaluator every five years to assess rateable properties for Councils. However, BAC emphasized that this legal obligation has proven to be ineffective, as the last evaluation of rateable properties in their jurisdiction was conducted in 2005.
“It’s worth to note that, the Brikama Area Council is not receiving the statutory 25% development fund from the Central Government, the quarterly Geology royalty fund has ceased to come for almost 2 years now, Government rateable properties within our jurisdiction remains unpaid. Therefore, we call on the Ministry to support Local Councils by manning up to their mandated responsibilities as opposed to orchestrating plans to impede our progress,” BAC said.