The Assembly was compelled to adjourn its sessions on Tuesday 8th February 2022 because the Attorney General was out of the jurisdiction.
The Assembly Business Committee (ABC) was immediately requested to convene a meeting to study and review the conduct of the Attorney General in accordance with the Constitution and the Standing Orders of the National Assembly for appropriate advice.
The Attorney General and Justice Minister Dawda A. Jallow told lawmakers that his absence was inadvertent.
“My absence on the 8th of February to appear before the National Assembly was clearly unintentional and we deeply regret the inconvenience that it has caused the National Assembly,” he said.
“I would also like to add that it does not signify any sign of disrespect to this august body. "I urge the National Assembly Members, the Hon speaker and the Office of the Clerk to accept my apology.”
Upon reviewing the various relevant provisions of the 1997 Constitution and the Standing Orders of the National Assembly, the ABC of the House observed the possibility to pass a “vote of censure” against a Minister (under section 75 of the Constitution) or cite him for “contempt of the National Assembly” (under section 110 of the constitution).
However, they decided that all the pending businesses of the Hon Attorney General dealing with Bills be written-off from the current Agenda of the Fifth Ordinary Session, 2022 since there might not be sufficient time to complete the legislative process of the said Bills within the period the AG would be available as communicated in the Ministry’s second letter to the Assembly.
The ABC considered such a move as a sanction in the Assembly’s own right.
It could be recalled that The Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon Mariam Jack Denton warned that a minister must respect the Agenda of the Assembly and be present at any meeting or engagement scheduled with the Assembly in line with section 77(4) of the 1997 Constitution.
“Thus, it is hereby communicated to the Hon. Attorney General and other Cabinet Ministers that the Assembly will not condone repetitive failure to attend to businesses under a Minister’s charge in Parliament,” she stated.
Attorney general and minister for Justice on Monday appeared before deputies at the National Assembly Chamber to deliver his formal apology for his absence from scheduled businesses in Parliament without timely notice.
The Assembly was compelled to adjourn its sessions on Tuesday 8th February 2022 because the Attorney General was out of the jurisdiction.
The Assembly Business Committee (ABC) was immediately requested to convene a meeting to study and review the conduct of the Attorney General in accordance with the Constitution and the Standing Orders of the National Assembly for appropriate advice.
The Attorney General and Justice Minister Dawda A. Jallow told lawmakers that his absence was inadvertent.
“My absence on the 8th of February to appear before the National Assembly was clearly unintentional and we deeply regret the inconvenience that it has caused the National Assembly,” he said.
“I would also like to add that it does not signify any sign of disrespect to this august body. "I urge the National Assembly Members, the Hon speaker and the Office of the Clerk to accept my apology.”
Upon reviewing the various relevant provisions of the 1997 Constitution and the Standing Orders of the National Assembly, the ABC of the House observed the possibility to pass a “vote of censure” against a Minister (under section 75 of the Constitution) or cite him for “contempt of the National Assembly” (under section 110 of the constitution).
However, they decided that all the pending businesses of the Hon Attorney General dealing with Bills be written-off from the current Agenda of the Fifth Ordinary Session, 2022 since there might not be sufficient time to complete the legislative process of the said Bills within the period the AG would be available as communicated in the Ministry’s second letter to the Assembly.
The ABC considered such a move as a sanction in the Assembly’s own right.
It could be recalled that The Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon Mariam Jack Denton warned that a minister must respect the Agenda of the Assembly and be present at any meeting or engagement scheduled with the Assembly in line with section 77(4) of the 1997 Constitution.
“Thus, it is hereby communicated to the Hon. Attorney General and other Cabinet Ministers that the Assembly will not condone repetitive failure to attend to businesses under a Minister’s charge in Parliament,” she stated.
