Speaking at his party’s bureau on Wednesday, the former Interior minister said it is wrong for ministers to disrespect the lawmakers because they represent the people.
I am displeased with the way ministers sometimes treat National Assembly members, I think it’s horrible. The National Assembly Chamber is the highest chamber in this country. That is where the ordinary man has a voice”, he emphasised. “Government is nothing without the National Assembly.”
“It is the most important organ of the state. Whoever goes there is answerable to the people. It’s like you are before the whole of the Gambia to be accounted for. You should behave and be disciplined when you appear there.”
He said the ministers are answerable to the president and the National Assembly just as the president is answerable to the people and the National Assembly.
He claimed ministers can never be bigger than NAMs because they are answerable to them.
The former special adviser to the president said every minister must accord maximum respect to the parliamentarians, citing himself as an example when he was the Interior minister.
Ministers appearing before the National Assembly should get their facts correct and they should “speak with decorum not to show off your shoulders.”
“I went before the National Assembly as minister of the Interior and I spent six hours on my feet. I did not sit out of respect for them. My language was very civil even though I was angry because I knew they are my bosses, they represent the people.”
“They should be respected. Any minister who goes there should accord them respect because you are nothing. The National Assembly is way more powerful than you.”
He said regardless of the parliamentarians political affiliation, the institution must be respected.
