By Africa 24

The Speaker of Parliament, Hon Sengepoh Solomon Thomas, has warned MPs on their oversights functions.

He talked especially the Chairman of Committees who does oversight functions without the Speaker’s permission.

Speaker Thomas made the disclosure on Thursday 11 July, 2024.

“Don’t go on oversight without my permission, if you do, you’ll be removed as chairperson, this action is affecting the effectiveness of parliament, look at the empty seats on my right, those on the left are doing quite well in terms of attendance,”he said.

The Speaker has, in the past, warned MPs to be punctual on sittings in the Well of Parliament.

He said MPs should prioritize sittings in the chambers.

“Attendance is still not impressive , I’m putting together a package for MPs who have not travelled…MPs must be punctual,”he said.

He said there will be a study tour, incentives for re-orientation and training for MPs who are punctual in sittings’ attendance.

Hon. Dixon Rogers, Govt Chief Whip has called for the ‘relieving of duty’ the Chairmen of Committees who go on oversight functions without permission from the Speaker.

MPs say some of their colleagues would sit in their offices while others are in the canteens deliberately refusing to attend proceedings in the chambers.

“The sitting will not start if a qorum is not formed. MPs are deliberately absenting themselves from parliamentary sittings.” “Parliament is not a ghetto where people can just go out where they wanted. Penalty will be instituted for absentees,’’ former speaker Dr Bundu, had warned MPs in the past.

But other MPs argued that most of them do not have offices in parliament, adding that the ‘alternative’ office for MPs are the canteen.

“Most of the MPs are doing their work in the canteen. How do you expect MPs to effectively do their work when there is no office for them.”

“We go outside to do our research and come back to parliament,” one of the MPs had told this medium.