By Parliamentary Reporter

The leadership in the House of Representatives have threatened those Sierra Leoneans who are bashing on MPs on issues but without seeking clarifications the Law House’s officials.

Expressing his disappointment, the leader in Parliament who also serves as government business, Matthew Sahr Nyuma called on the Speaker of Parliament to invoke Section 94 and 95 of the Constitution of Sierra Leone to reprimand those who are accusing Parliament without bringing out facts.

He said before the enactment of the finance bill some unscrupulous social media bloggers as he described them, posted that Parliament has approved a 10% tax on rice importation.

He said such allegations were grave and are aimed at tarnishing the reputation of parliament.

He said it has been so long a time that Parliament has not acted in line with the rules in the national constitution.

He was asking the Speaker to now begin to institute contempt cases to those who think they can just jump into social media to demean parliament and MPs.

Hon Nyuma pointed that most times he follows up on the social media comments by bloggers who are in the of falsely accusing MPs of either compromise or taking bribe among others.

He said the social media commentators don’t have supporting evidence of in making such allegations against MPs

He said both the opposition and the government bench MPs suffered same and warned all those engaged in such behaviours to desist or they faced the wrath of parliament.

Responding to the Hon Nyumas’ statements, the opposition leader in parliament,Hon Abdul Kargbo echoed the submissions of Hon  Nyuma stating that people most times don’t comprehend issues and activities of parliament but they would jump into conclusions in their judgments on the happenings in Parliament.

He said such categories of people should be educated on parliamentary proceedings and its work.

He also called for action against defaulters.

In his reaction, the Speaker of Parliament, Hon Segepoh Solomon Thomas said the allegations that Parliament has approved 10% tax on rice importation is not only misleading but aimed at defamation them.

“Parliament has not added or approved any percentage on rice importation. The 5% tax on importation has been deferred to 2026. The 5% tax on rice added in 2024 finance Act still on force”