By Odimmegwa Johnpeter, Abuja
The Right Honorable Dr. Mohamed Sidie Tunis, Speaker of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, Member of Parliament representing Constituency 101, Pujehun District, Southern Sierra Leone, and a ranking member of the governing Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) has been conferred upon with the highest ‘National Honours and Awards 2021.’
The award was presented to the ECOWAS Speaker by the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, His Excellency Rtd. Brig. Julius Maada Bio during Sierra Leone’s Sixtieth Independence Day commemoration held on Tuesday 27 April 2021, at the State House, in Freetown. During the Investiture Ceremony, Hon. Dr. Tunis was singled out for his exceptional and extensive service and contribution to the National Assembly and his progressive leadership style at the Community Parliament.
Hon. Dr. Tunis recently served as the Leader of Government Business controlling a House of 146 Members, Chairman Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Appointments and Public Service – superintended over the confirmation of Cabinet Ministers and Heads of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies. He has been championing the promulgation of progressive national laws (Extractive Industries Revenue Act, Commissions of Inquiry, Local Content Policy, Small and Medium Enterprises Act, etc), having served as Chairman of the Parliamentary Trade and Industry Committee and as a member of numerous Committees including the Delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament. Hon. Dr. Tunis also served as a Board Member in top state parastatals; Sierra Leone Roads Authority and Guma Valley Water Company.
The ECOWAS Speaker holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry degree from Cuttington University, Liberia, where he was recently conferred with a Doctorate of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa.
The Businessman cum Politician, Hon. Dr. Tunis, started national politics in the year 2005 as elected Secretary-General National Unity Party for three years before he was absorbed into the SLPP. He was first elected into the Sierra Leone Parliament in the year 2002 under late President, Ahmed Tejan Kabbah and subsequently in opposition for two terms as a Minority Whip before his party was elected into political governance in 2018.
For the last twelve years, Hon. Dr. Tunis has been described as a political unifier and an all-rounder who cuts across the sometimes hostile and polarized legislative divide in a hung parliament. His critics say he is too inclusive and consultative.
In his constituency, Hon. Dr. Tunis has entrenched himself and his family into every facet of the life of his constituents, rendering institutional and personal assistance to Business Women, Farmers, Students, and Academics, Religious Leaders, Drivers, youth groups, etc.
Pres. Julius Maada Bio in consonance with Section No 40 (Office of the President), subsection No.4.(f) granted the ECOWAS Speaker the Honour of “Commander of the Order of the Republic of Sierra Leone (CORSL),” in recognition of his “ outstanding service to the country.” In return, the ECOWAS Speaker in the presence of foreign Heads of State – H.E Nana Addo – Ghana, H.E George M. Weah Liberia, H.E Adama Barrow Gambia, Yemi Osinbajo Vice President of the Federal of Nigeria, and other Community and diplomatic dignitaries received the highest national awards with smiles of deep reflection on his public life journey and service to his country people.
Asked what does the award means to him personally and for his leadership at the Community Parliament, Hon. Dr. Tunis said: “ Well to me, this is an inspiration to do more.”
“The President has said to me time and again, that I have not only performed at a very critical time when I took over as the Leader of Government Business, at a time that we had Minority as the ruling party in Parliament, but I was also still able to consolidate our position by way of my ability to consult with other political parties to put the Parliament in order. Not only stopping at that, but I have also gone regional which is a very big stride for his Government and the People of Sierra Leone and in the integration process. I am trying to bring the Community Parliament closer to the people which is very important to His Excellency the President. He is happy with the way I am running the ECOWAS Parliament. He has been hearing about it from other Leaders and has been seeing what I am doing on the news, so he is very happy. For me, this award is only going to give me more energy to work and more commitment to the people of the sub-region and of Sierra Leone. “
Hon. Dr. Tunis in several media interviews has insisted on taking the ECOWAS Parliament to the People, consolidating its financial base, giving women more opportunities, upholding regional peace and democratic governance, among other things, an initiative that he and his team at the Community Parliament have been driving in tandem with the ECOWAS Revised Treaty.
https://any.peopleandpowermag.com/ecowas-speaker-bags-highest-national-award/
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