By: Kebba AF Touray
Sulayman Jammeh, the Chairperson of the National Assembly Select Committee on Regional Government, Lands, Ombudsman, Independent Commission, has cautioned entities under the purview of the committee that failing to appear will be contempt of the committee.
Mr. Jammeh issued this caution on Wednesday June 22nd 2022, during an interface with public entities.
“Once an officer or institution is summoned to appear before the committee and give excuses for not appearing, without a prior authority from the chairperson, he or she will be in contempt of the committee,” he said.
He told the institutions that prior to the presentation of any report or testimony, all officers shall take the prescribed oath which will be administered by the committee clerk.
“The institution officials shall have a soft copy of their annual reports. In view of the current operational arrangement, it is against this background that the select committee conveyed this session with the ministry and all the agencies under its purview, such as Department of Community Development, Land Commission, Regional Heads, Ombudsman and the, and the Chairperson of the Independent Electoral Commission,” he told the entities.
Jammeh said the interface was aimed at briefing the entities on how the committee intends to engage with them and notify them about the committee’s work plan, as well as acquaint the entities with the constitutional and statutory provisions, which will greatly help the implementation of their work plan.
According to him, the mapping out of the way forward will enhance successful outcomes in safeguarding of respect for all and adherence to the fundamentals in compliance with the procedures and processes which ensures monitoring and timely intervention to prevent any possible shortcomings.
“It also important to note that all the annual reports, previously scrutinized by the committee shall henceforth be scrutinized by the Finance and Public Account Committee of the assembly. Therefore, recommendations and resolutions of the FPAC shall be taken up by this committee for implementation,” he informed the attending entities.
