By Joe Tucker
The Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Dr. Abass Chernor Bundu, has told Ministers, attending the five day Presidential address debate on Friday 1st June 2018 that they will be required from henceforth to start responding to issues that are being raised on their respective ministries by parliamentarians during debates.
Dr. Abass Bundu noted that this is the beginning of the oversight role of MPs to make Ministers accountable.
“It is very important that you discharge that role solemnly when the ministers take a flow at the end of the debate,” the Speaker noted.
It could be recalled that in past parliamentary sessions ministers have not been given the opportunity to respond to issues raised by MPs and this, according to him, has been a problem.
The leader of the National Grand Coalition, Hon. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkellah, while delivering his statement, told MPs that he agrees with the President’s, “PAOPA Salone for bete”. This is why, according to him, they will be submitting a document to the President on what they, at the NGC, proffer on the President address as part of their contribution to the New Direction.
He believes that the President has an ambitious plan towards education, but he also outlined the numerous challenges facing the sector- such as the huge number of school children and unavailability of the much needed infrastructure, to name a few.
“Whatever we do, we must ensure that our actions on education are sustainable,” Hon. Dr. Yumkella pointed out.
Deputy Speaker and MP, Constituency 089, Bonthe District, Segepoh Thomas, said he is so passionate about civic education because, according to him, many graduates and other school leavers do not understand basic national issues. He gave an example of a graduate who does not understand the difference between the legislature and the judiciary.
The House was adjourned to Tuesday 5th June 2018, where ministers are expected to respond to the various issues raised by parliamentarians during the five day debate.