By Ragan M Conteh
The Speaker of the Sixth Parliament, Hon Solomon Sengehpoh Thomas has stated that Members of Parliament (MPs) from both sides of the aisle are now in the habit of abandoning and boycotting plenary sittings for committees sittings.
The Speaker accused Parliamentary oversight committees’ chairmen transforming committee into court.
‘Most of the committee’s chairmen have transformed their committee into court,’ he said.
Parliamentary Committee is a small group of Members of Parliament, created and empowered by Parliament to perform a specified task.
Each committee consists of Members of Parliament (MPs) from political parties in Parliament based on the strength of their representation in the House.
The mandate is embedded in Section 93(5) of 1991Constitution.
Parliamentary committees are supposed to hold their meetings in Parliament, but may convene outside the precincts of Parliament with the permission of the Speaker but they may also sit while the House is adjourned for recess.
During Thursday’s sitting the attendance of the House was abysmal and discouraging.
It left the Speaker with no option, but vowed and promised to hold a meeting with the leadership of both parties to discuss the way forward.
According to the Speaker, committees are now even taken actions against Ministries Department and Agencies (MDAs).
Hon. Segepoh made this disclosure on Thursday 6th June, 2024 during plenary sitting.
Hon. Segepoh urged both the ruling and opposition MPs to act in a way that the people of Sierra Leone we have trust in them.
He said he intends to meet with both the leadership of both the ruling and opposition parties to discuss and set up rules for committees that should be going for oversight.
The Acting Leader of the opposition, Hon. Daniel Brima Koroma who represents Tonkolili District suggested that for the Supervisory Committee to be supervising the various parliamentary committees and present their reports to the Well if possible for a debate.
He said any committee that should be going for an overnight, should present report noteworthy if possible for them to debate on it.
Hon. Segepoh made it clear that no MP should go on/ for an overnight when there is a sitting in the Well.
In addition, SLPP Chief Whip, Hon. Dixson Rogers from Pujehun District accused certain committees acting and taking decision against Ministry Department and Agencies (MDAs) without informing the leadership of the House.
Hon. Rogers suggested to the House that any committee before they go for an overnight should inform the leader of government business, Hon. Sahr Mathew Nyuma.