By Kebba AF Touray
The National Assembly is set to convene its Third Ordinary Session for 2025 from September 8 to 29, with key items on the agenda including the 2025 annual budget, ministerial reports, and legislative bills.
The Office of the Clerk confirmed that Finance Minister Seedy Keita will deliver an oral ministerial statement on the implementation and monitoring of the annual budget on Wednesday, September 8, in line with Standing Order 94(1).
The Minister of Tourism is also expected to respond to the Public Petitions Committee report on a petition by staff of the Gambia Tourism Board, after which lawmakers will hold a one-hour debate to assess implementation and adjustments.
The Health Minister will provide his ministerial reply to the report of the Select Committee on Health, Refugees, Disaster and Humanitarian Relief following the Committee’s nationwide tour of health facilities and refugee settlements from February 17–23, 2025.
Attorney General Dawda Jallow will appear for the second reading of the Judicial Officers (Conditions of Service) Bill, 2025, with legislators allotted one hour to debate the bill.
Finally, Environment Minister Rohey John Manjang will lay a motion for the Assembly to consider and ratify the BBNJ Treaty under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea concerning the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, pursuant to Section 79(1)(a) and (c) of the 1997 Constitution.
