During Monday’s session, the speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Abdoulie Bojang, welcomed members back to business, after a break on the statutory annual recess of parliament from 23 June to 31 July.
Presenting the report before members of the National Assembly, Hon. Ablie Suku Singhateh, member for Lower Baddibu, who led the Gambian delegation to the ECOWAS female Parliament in Nigeria on 29 May 2014, said the delegation paid a courtesy call on the First Lady, Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan.
He said that among key issues discussed were women empowerment and affirmative action on women representation in appointive and elective positions, the security challenges in the sub-region, especially the scourge of terrorism and insurgence in some parts of Nigeria.
Hon. Singhateh told members of the National Assembly that the ECOWAS Female Parliament condemned the brigandage and infamy of the Boka Haram terrorist group in its entirety.
They sympathized with the families and the abducted young girls from their boarding school in Chibok in north-eastern Bornu State and to all victims of terrorism.
According to Hon Singhateh, the First Lady described the parliamentarians as a conclave of patriots and sub-regional builders and also advised them to be each other’s keeper for the betterment of the sub-region.
The ECOWAS female parliamentarians were in Abuja for the 2014 First Ordinary Session, a session which would also be remembered especially for the commissioning of the refurbished parliamentary complex and foundation laying for a new office building for parliamentarians.
In the course of the session, the Lower Baddibu MP informed members of the National Assembly that parliamentarians received and dissected the state of the community report as rendered by the President of the Commission, as well as the country report.
This report gives a clearer and in-depth picture of the developments, challenges and progress in the community.
Hon. Haddy Nyang, member for Jeshwang, said the report was promoting and defending human rights, adding that without peace there would be no development.
She said the ECOWAS Parliament also condemned Boka Haram in Nigeria, which was a good move.
Sulayman Joof, member for Serrekunda West, thanked the Minister of Works and Construction and National Assembly matters for his appointment as the APRC Secretary General.
He also commended Hon. Alhagie Sillah, member for Banjul North, for his appointment as the GFF Normalization Chairman, noting that this was a good move for the National Assembly.
Hon. Joof thanked the Gambian delegation that attended the important meeting in Nigeria and called on all ECOWAS member states to come together to fight Boka Haram.
Hon. Sainey Mbye, member for Upper Saloum, and Hon. Netty Baldeh, member for Tumana, supported the report.
