Opposition Members of Parliament have announced the suspension of all parliamentary sessions following the Speaker’s failure to address their concerns regarding the Clerk of Parliament within the agreed-upon two-week timeframe.

The suspension of sittings comes after the Speaker’s initial promise to address the issue, a deadline that has now lapsed without resolution.

In response to the announcement, the Speaker of Parliament acknowledged receiving the letter from the opposition MPs, which raised the issue of the Clerk of Parliament. The Speaker noted that he had already initiated discussions with the leadership of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and reassured the opposition that a formal response would be delivered within the next week. He urged the opposition MPs to resume their parliamentary duties while awaiting the response.

However, Opposition Leader Hon. Abdul Kargbo, in a respectful reply, reminded the Speaker that the opposition had adhered to his initial request for a two-week period, during which they had allowed time for the issue to be addressed.

Hon. Kargbo confirmed that the suspension was already in effect but assured the Speaker that the opposition MPs would return to their duties once a response had been received.

This development has sparked further concerns within the Parliament, with both sides awaiting the outcome of ongoing discussions in hopes of a swift resolution to the matter at hand.