Africa-Press – Gambia. The government’s planned reform of The Gambia’s local government system has reached its final stage but is facing delays due to funding limitations and scheduling constraints, officials disclosed during a National Assembly committee session.
Officials from the Ministry of Lands, Regional Government and Religious Affairs told lawmakers that the review of the Local Government Act 2002 and the Local Government Finance and Budget Act 2004 has completed nationwide stakeholder consultations and internal technical assessments.
The process is now awaiting national validation before submission to the National Assembly as a bill.
However, officials said the final stage depends largely on external support.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), which is financing the validation exercise, approved funding for 60 participants instead of the 82 initially proposed by the ministry.
Authorities said the reduction limits the representation of some stakeholders across the country.
The Ministry indicated that it had sought broader participation to ensure inclusivity but adjusted its plans in line with available funding. The government is considering covering the additional participants if resources become available.
Funding constraints have also affected the duration of the exercise. Ministry representatives argued that reviewing two major laws could not be completed in one day. Discussions with partners resulted in approval for a three-day session, limited to the reduced number of participants.
Lawmakers questioned why the reform process relied heavily on donor financing rather than national budget allocations, noting that the review has been under discussion for several years.
Ministry officials responded that the process only entered its final phase after internal validation and consultant review, leaving the external validation subject to partner procedures.
They added that requirements include a mandatory 14-working-day notice period and prior circulation of draft documents to participants.
Scheduling issues have further contributed to delays. Officials said dates cannot be confirmed until the responsible Minister returns from an overseas trip, as he intends to attend the entire validation exercise rather than only the opening session. The timing may also be influenced by the Ramadan period.
Once validation is completed, the revised legislation will be submitted to the National Assembly for debate and possible enactment.
The committee session concluded with an acknowledgement that the reform process is substantially complete, with funding arrangements and scheduling the remaining steps before the draft laws proceed to the legislative stage.
