By Mo Hamad Kargbo
The Right Honourable Speaker of Parliament, Segepoh Solomon Thomas, has warned Parliamentary Committees that failed to submit and lay reports on oversight activities conducted during the last session that they will not be permitted to undertake oversight activities in the current session.
The Speaker issued the warning on Monday, 10th August 2026, in the Well of Parliament, while addressing Committee Chairmen and Clerks on the procedures for conducting committee activities.
Speaker Thomas urged all eligible Committee Chairmen to ensure that their concept notes for proposed committee activities are submitted to the Leader of Government Business for vetting before receiving his final approval.
“Committee chairmen, with the exception of those committees that went on oversight during the last session but did not lay their reports, make sure you submit your concept note to the Leader of Government Business for vetting and for my final action,” the Speaker stated.
He further reminded Members of Parliament that he had previously given committees two separate deadlines to submit reports from oversight activities conducted during the previous session.
According to the Speaker, despite those deadlines, some committees failed to lay their reports before Parliament. He therefore declared that such committees would automatically be excluded from conducting oversight activities during the new session.
“I indicated clearly to those committees to submit their reports, to lay their reports in this Well. Those committees did not lay their reports. So those committees are automatically out. They cannot go on oversight anymore,” Speaker Thomas warned.
However, committees that did not conduct oversight during the previous session, as well as those that conducted oversight and properly laid their reports before Parliament, have been directed to submit concept notes for their proposed activities.
The Speaker said the concept notes must first be submitted to the Leader of Government Business for inspection before they are forwarded for his final action.
Parliamentary committees play a critical role in exercising oversight over Ministries, Departments and Agencies, public institutions and other entities. Their oversight activities are intended to enable Members of Parliament to obtain first-hand information, assess the implementation of programmes and projects, and hold institutions accountable. The Speaker’s directive therefore places greater emphasis on the need for committees to complete the reporting process after conducting oversight, ensuring that findings and recommendations are formally brought before Parliament for consideration and debate. The move is also expected to strengthen accountability within Parliamentary Committees and ensure that oversight activities are followed by proper documentation and reporting.
