By: Kebba AF Touray
Members of the Gambia’s National Assembly, on Thursday 18th July 2024, adopted the report of the Public Enterprise Committee (PEC) with strong emphasis on the need to enhance and support the Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS), with the required resources to conduct their functions.
This emphasis on the PEC report was made by the lawmakers during their debate on the PEC report that was tabled before them by PEC Chairperson Hon. Lamin J. Sanneh, for scrutiny and adoption.
Presenting the report, Hon. Sanneh told his colleagues that the challenges confronting the State broadcaster ranges from inadequate specialized training for staff, to inadequate equipment and mobility.
He said PEC recommends GRTS to procure equipment to fast track its digitization, and for the board to come up with strategies and innovative business ideas to maintain the state broadcaster’s relevance and visibility in the digital era.
During the debate, Members hailed PEC for a judiciously executed assignment and called for the Committee to incorporate a time frame for each of the recommendations made on each of the sectors.
Members noted that most of the properties of NAWEC are not secured, and that most of the vehicles used by NAWEC in the provinces are hired. PEC Chairperson Sanneh said they also observed that the Fajara Water Treatment plant is not properly maintained by NAWEC, and reported that the committee recommends for NAWEC to ensure that there are functional chlorination plants in all water treatment facilities of the nation’s only Utility provider, and ensure proper fencing and leasing of all NAWEC properties. It challenges the company to update the PEC on the progress made by end December 2024.
On SSHFC, PEC Chairperson Sanneh said some of the key challenges confronting NAWEC include the failure of some employers to pay their monthly contributions; the inadequate backing by the law to ensure that employers pay or they reprimand the institution if they fail to do so.
“The committee recommended among others for the SSHFC to ensure that employers pay their monthly contributions on time, for a timely payment of benefits to employees, and for the SSHFC to fast track the implementation of a Social Security Management Information System to ensure timely and accurate assessment of contributions and payments of benefits,” Chairperson Sanneh said.
Members also decried the state’s broadcaster operations on analogue with only four cameras as unfortunate, and strongly urged the authorities to adequately provide them with requisite equipment to effectively discharge their duties. Members also questioned the allocation of D40 Million to the media houses to promote the agenda of the government, saying that money should have been given to the GRTS to ensure that they are empowered with the required tools to conduct their functions.
Subsequently, the plenary adopted the report of the Public Enterprise Committee of the National Assembly on the status of GRTS, NAWEC and SSHFC.
Meanwhile, the National Assembly has committed various bills to their respective committees within the Assembly on Wednesday 17th July 2024, to ensure that the respective committees conduct effective, efficient and adequate scrutiny and findings, and report to the plenary on the bills committed before them.
One of such bills is the National Security Bill 2024, which was tabled by the Member for Wuli East, Hon. Suwaibou Touray.
The motion to commit the bill to the defence committee was seconded by the member for Kansala, Hon. Alimameh Gibba.
In the same vein, the vetting of the bill was also committed to the defense and security committee of the legislature for scrutiny and report to the plenary.
The Member for Kansala also moved a motion for the Students Revolving Loan Scheme to be committed to the joint committee on Finance and Public Accounts Committee (FPAC) and the Education committee. The motion was seconded by the member for Tumana, Hon. Nfally Kora.
The Member for Wuli East, Hon. Touray also moved a motion for the Interpretation Bill to be committed to the joint committee on subsidiary legislation and Human Rights.
The Member for Sami Constituency, Hon. Alfusainey Ceesay also moved a motion for the Research Fund Bill to be committed to the education committee, and was seconded by Hon. Dembo Sanneh of Foni Bondali.
National Security Bill, 2024
This bill seeks to promote the effective and efficient coordination of the security of the Gambia as a critically important factor for security sector reform.
The Vetting Bill, 2024 seeks to implement security vetting in the Gambia, as an important part of the Government’s reform of the security sector, which will play a critical role in restoring trust and integrity across the security sector.
The Research and Innovation Bill, 2024 proposes governance and administrative structures for the management and coordination of funds, to ensure its effective and efficient management toward the improvement of the country’s international competitiveness in science, technology and innovation.
The Interpretation (Amendment) Bill, 2024 seeks to amend the interpretation act by vesting the National Assembly with the power to scrutinize subsidiary legislation.
The Student’s Revolving Loan Scheme, Bill 2024 seeks to provide equitable access to tertiary and higher education for all Gambians. It further intends to provide gender inclusion in tertiary and higher education and sustainable tertiary and higher education financing for students in the Gambia.
