Presenting the bill for its second reading, the Vice President said the amendment was aimed at creating a clear and enforceable legal framework to finance the country’s security sector reform process and the operations of the National Security Sector Joint Operations Fund. He pointed to a key problem that has hindered progress, noting that despite the passage of the National Security Council Act 2025, the absence of workable financing provisions has made it impossible to generate funds as intended.
He told lawmakers that since the law was enacted, “we could not get any monies from that because it was not enforceable”, highlighting the urgency behind the amendment.
“The bill seeks to address legal gaps in the current law, particularly provisions that conflict with existing tax legislation and others that are not recognised under any law,” he stated. “To resolve this, the amendment proposes the introduction of a single national security levy set at 1.5 per cent on the cost, insurance and freight value of all imported goods.”
According to the Vice President, the new approach will replace ineffective provisions and ensure that the fund is backed by a reliable domestic revenue stream. He stressed that this would reduce dependence on external donors and allow for better long-term planning in areas such as logistics, infrastructure and training within the security sector.
The bill also introduces new sections to guide how the levy will be imposed, collected and enforced, with the Gambia Revenue Authority tasked with collecting the funds and paying them into the Joint Operations Fund. It further provides for penalties to ensure compliance, while aligning enforcement with existing tax laws.
Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon Seedy S.K. Njie, underscored the importance of the amendment, describing it as a response to the financial difficulties security forces face. He said members of parliament are aware of the daily challenges confronting security personnel, including limited resources, equipment and operational capacity.
He added that maintaining peace and stability requires well-resourced forces, noting that effective law enforcement and national defence cannot be achieved without adequate funding. He described the bill as forward-looking and necessary to address what he called long-standing concerns affecting both the executive and the legislature.
The Assembly accepted the certificate of urgency, allowing the bill to proceed through all stages without delay. Proceedings later moved into committee of the House for detailed consideration after the bill was deemed to have been read a second time.
The proposed amendment is expected to play a key role in strengthening national security institutions by ensuring sustainable funding and improving the capacity of the country’s security forces.
