Kabineh Kallon has been in oblivion since President Bio’s First Government ended, where he served as Minister of Transport and Aviation. Last Friday, his name resurfaced on the Frontpages of the papers with the disgusting revelation that President Bio intends to appoint him the Board chairman of the National Revenue Authority (NRA) to replace Mrs Tuma Gento Kamara, whose term nears conclusion, reliable sources at State House alluded.
The proposed appointment of the former Minister of Transport and Aviation has come under heavy criticism because he is inept and lacks the leadership qualities, expertise, experience and educational background to run an important institution like the NRA, which is the backbone of revenue generation in the country. Appointing, the likes of Kabineh Kallon in such an an important institution is nothing other than having a square peg in a round hole because he does not have the requisite knowledge to run that enviable institution and was replaced in the Ministry and disappeared into oblivion is now going to be the country’s new Board Chairman at the Office of National Revenue Authority.
Following the assurance of the enviable position, Kabineh has already held three distinct meetings with high-ranking personnel at the nation’s revenue organization, notifying them of his proposed appointment as NRA Board Chairman.
Sources alluded that during these meetings, ‘’Kabineh Kallon revealed that President Bio has mandated him not only to join the NRA but also to eliminate individuals with ties to the north-western region and establish a formidable team that will comply with his desires and demands.’’
If we are to go by the speculations regarding his imminent appointment, then it shrouded future, I see. The initiative has to be renewed by President Bio; otherwise, Bio’s New Direction is doomed for misdirection beyond human imagination. It is an impeccable fact that the NRA is the lifeblood of the nation, and it requires a Board Chairman who can make things happen and help to revamp the economy rather than bleed state coffers dry. Many Sierra Leoneans fear that Kabineh Kallon will not only reverse progress made within the institution but also cause substantial damage when the country needs serious-minded individuals to tackle the current economic woes ravaging the masses. The public is now anxiously waiting to see whether President Bio will make the serious error of appointing an individual seen as inexperienced and a proven underachiever in managing the transport sector, which is deemed less critical, to lead an institution considered vital to Sierra Leone.
The ineptitude and inexperience of Kabineh speak for themselves by beating the gun in informing the public about his appointment and holding secret meetings with some cross-section of staff at NRA and assuring them of his fullest protection and support when he takes over the administration of NRA as Board Chair. The promise of building his team is an administrative injustice, which suggests that his coming to NRA is a recipe for disaster. He would divide the NRA and create chaos and fighting among members. He intends to bring back customs officers who were transferred last year from the main customs office at Cline Town to other locations because of the growing deep-rooted animosity and division they created among customs staff. They were transferred to avert internal strife to ensure the smooth running of the customs office and expedite revenue generation.
According to sources, Kallon’s clandestine assured the aforementioned Custom officers of their return to the Customs Office, which suggests that if Kabineh is appointed, the Customs Office would be plunged into chaos, divisions, animosity and infighting, which has the proclivity to slow down revenue generation.
Concerns are that Minister Kallon is also coming to execute another orchestrated action, as exhibited at the Office of Statistics. Sierra Leone, to cleverly remove NRA workers suspected to be on the other side. This brings memories of what happened at Statistics Sierra Leone when the Bio Government took office in 2018, in which over 200 employees were unlawfully sacked, most of whom were northerners.
Kabineh Kallon had once worked at the National Revenue Authority in the days of the late President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah. Those who know him will tell you he has nothing good to offer besides what was exhibited and evidenced during his tenure at the Ministry of Transport and Aviation.
President Julius Maada Bio should reconsider appointing someone other than Kabineh Kallon to head a sensitive office like the Board Chairman. Kallon’s work since the Kabbah’s Days has been nothing to write home about. Though it is the President’s prerogative to hire and fire, some schools of thought hold the view that the office of the National Revenue Authority is very important and that an appointment of such nature should be on someone who has all that it takes with the exuberance, diligence, hard work and ability to make a meaningful and accurate decision that would be in the interest of the entire nation.
