The Ministry of Local Government and Lands has summoned the Brikama Area Council (BAC) to address ongoing disputes regarding assessing its revenue sources. The meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, May 6, 2025, highlights tensions between the council and the central government over compliance with statutory mandates and financial support for local governance.
The BAC, acting under the Local Government Finance and Audit Act 2004, is conducting an assessment of its revenue sources to fulfill Section 21(3), which mandates councils to prepare a comprehensive list of revenue sources and maintain data on total potential collectible revenues. The council clarified that this process is not an attempt to set new tax ceilings, as it lacks the authority to appoint evaluators. Instead, it relies on its 2020 gazetted tariff to collect revenue across all sectors.
In a statement, the BAC expressed frustration with the Ministry’s response, accusing it of failing to recognize the council’s efforts and impeding its progress. “It’s unfortunate that our line Ministry is deliberately failing to encourage our efforts by resolving to impede the progressive trend the Brikama Area Council recently premised on,” the statement read.
The council also highlighted the central government’s failure to meet its statutory obligations. According to the BAC, the Ministry must appoint an evaluator every five years to assess ratable properties for councils. However, the last evaluation within BAC’s jurisdiction occurred in 2005, leaving a 20-year gap in compliance. This has hindered the council’s ability to update its revenue base accurately.
Further compounding the issue, the BAC noted that it is not receiving critical financial support from the central government. The statutory 25% development fund has not been disbursed, and the quarterly Geology royalty fund has been withheld for nearly two years. Additionally, government-owned rateable properties within the council’s jurisdiction remain unpaid, placing further strain on its finances.
The BAC called on the Ministry to fulfill its responsibilities and support local councils rather than obstructing their efforts. “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,” the council urged.
The ongoing dispute underscores broader challenges in local governance in The Gambia, where councils often face financial and administrative constraints due to limited central government support. The BAC’s assessment process is seen as a step toward greater economic independence, but without cooperation from the Ministry, its efforts risk being undermined.
As the council prepares for Tuesday’s meeting, stakeholders are watching closely to see whether the central government will address the BAC’s concerns or if tensions will escalate further. The outcome could set a precedent for how local councils navigate their mandates in the face of systemic challenges.
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