By Kebba AF Touray
The National Assembly has moved to investigate the alleged disruptive behaviour of the Janjanbureh Area Council, with lawmakers condemning what they called an ongoing pattern of defiance and disrespect towards the legislative committee responsible for regional government oversight.
The motion for a special committee to probe into the matter was introduced by Hon. Lamin Ceesay, the Member for Kiang West, during a plenary session held on March 13.
The allegations stem from incidents that occurred during the Regional Government Committee’s recent oversight tour of local councils, including Janjanbureh. According to lawmakers, Janjanbureh Area Council has repeatedly demonstrated behavior deemed inappropriate by the committee, which is tasked with monitoring the performance of councils and ensuring accountability. The committee’s most recent visit to the council reportedly ended in a boycott by council officials, a move that members of the committee described as a direct affront to the legislature’s authority.
The incident was outlined in the committee’s official report, which included a reminder of similar behavior by Janjanbureh officials during a 2022 nationwide tour. On both occasions, the council’s refusal to engage in the oversight process led to the cancellation of scheduled site visits and discussions on vital projects. The committee called this conduct a “No Show” situation, underscoring the deep frustration felt by lawmakers.
“The committee deemed this behavior as a complete disregard for our work, and we felt deeply disappointed,” said Hon. Sulayman Jammeh, Chairperson of the Regional Government Committee, while presenting the report. “This pattern of disrespect must end, and we believe the legislature must take firm action.”
Lawmakers, reacting to the report, expressed their belief that the council’s actions amounted to contempt of the assembly, a violation that cannot be allowed to continue. They underscored the importance of upholding the authority of the National Assembly and ensuring that the legislature is respected in the execution of its duties.
Following the discussion, Hon. Ceesay moved a motion to establish a special committee tasked with investigating the Janjanbureh Area Council’s actions and reporting back to the assembly with its findings. The motion was met with unanimous support in the plenary, and the matter was referred to the selections committee, which will identify independent individuals to carry out the inquiry.
This development signals a growing effort by the National Assembly to assert its authority and hold local government bodies accountable for their conduct. The investigation will likely bring renewed attention to the effectiveness of oversight mechanisms at the local government level and the need for greater cooperation between elected officials and regional councils. The National Assembly’s decision to probe the Janjanbureh Area Council is part of a broader push to ensure transparency and accountability within the country’s governance structures, a key issue for the current legislative body.
