MDAs Disrespect Parliament

By Abdul Rahman Bah

In an unexpected turn of events, the approval process for the State-Owned Enterprise Act 2025 has hit an impasse, following the conspicuous absence of Finance Minister, Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura, from Parliament. This unforeseen situation, compounded by the absence of his two deputies, left lawmakers frustrated and without adequate representation from the Ministry of Finance. As a result, the Speaker, Hon. Sengepoh Solomon Thomas, made the decision to adjourn the session, much to the dismay of those gathered. Parliamentarians, who assembled at the iconic Parliament, Tower Hill in Freetown, expressed their disappointment at the disruption of what was anticipated to be a pivotal debate on the bill aimed at reforming and bolstering state-owned enterprises. During the proceedings, Leader of Government Business, Hon. Sahr Mathew Nyuma, addressed the assembly, explaining that the Finance Minister and his team had been summoned to State House for an engagement deemed more pressing. He urged the Speaker to postpone the session until the next gathering, emphasizing the priority of the Minister’s other commitments over the parliamentary agenda. With the State-Owned Enterprise Act now in a state of limbo, members of Parliament await a new session date, hopeful that the Finance Minister will be present to clarify outstanding issues and facilitate the smooth passage of this significant legislation. This is not an isolated incident. Ministries, Departments, and Agencies have repeatedly ignored Parliamentary summons, undermining legislative authority. During last year’s Sub-Appropriation Committee hearings, key institutions, including the Office of the Chief Minister, the Office of Presidential and Infrastructure Initiative, and the Governance Advisory Unit, failed to appear before Parliament. The pattern continued ahead of the 2025 national budget hearings, despite Speaker Thomas urging MDAs to actively participate. While he previously warned of consequences for non-compliance, no action has been taken. The repeated failure of MDAs to engage with Parliament raises serious concerns about accountability and governance. Continued disregard for Parliamentary Oversight threatens to weaken governance and transparency.