By: Kebba AF Touray
The Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly has announced that the National Assembly of the Republic of the Gambia will commence its First Ordinary Session in the 2024 Legislative year today, Monday, 4 March 2024.
The Office of the Clerk announced this development in a press release to media houses since last week, and said during the session, pertinent state matters will be discussed for consideration, adoption and approval by the Lawmakers.
The office indicated that during this period, Deputies will consider daily Government and National Assembly businesses such as questions to Ministers for oral answer, reports of various committees and parliamentary delegations, motions and bills.
According to the press release, daily sittings will commence at 10:00 am prompt, and the public is reminded to comply with the standard dress code (traditional / lounge suit) required and to also observe the silence rule during proceedings.
During today’s sittings, the Vice President of the Republic of the Gambia is scheduled to introduce bills for the first reading namely the National Social Protection Bill, Nutrition Bill, Population Bill and the National Early Warning and Response Mechanism Bill 2024 respectively, in line with Standing Order 65 of the Legislature. The introduction of the said bills by the Vice President as disclosed in the press release will be preceded by the oral Ministerial statement by the Minister for Finance of the implementation and monitoring of the annual budget, in accordance with Standing Order 94 (1) of the National Assembly.
The Clerk’s Office also indicated that at the very onset of today’s sitting, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Fabakary Tombong Jatta, will make a statement or communication from the Chairperson during which he will welcome Legislators and other relevant entities such as the press to the session, and will give a rundown of an overview of the matters to be deliberated on by the lawmakers such as the bills passed, reports adopted, treaties ratified, and engagements by the various legislative committees among other activities of the Assembly of the previous session of the legislature.
