[PC: NA]
By Ramatoulie Jawo
The members of the 6th Legislature earlier today began a session on the operation of the various Standing and Select committees of the National Assembly.
The session which runs until 3rd June in the various committee rooms began with inaugural meetings, and selection of Vice-Chairpersons for the Select Committees, according to a statement by the House.
The inaugural meetings and selection of Vice-Chairpersons were followed by planning sessions, review and adoption of committee work plans for the rest of the Legislative Year, it added.
The statement continued that 8 of the 23 Committees are on schedule for their maiden meetings in preparation for their law-making, oversight, and representation functions.
The committees include the ‘Finance and Public Accounts Committee (FPAC); Regional Government, Lands, Ombudsman, and IEC; Public Petitions; Health; Human Rights and Constitutional Matters; Public Enterprises Committee (PEC), and the Select Committee on Gender, Children and Social Welfare.
Following their swearing-in ceremony on April 14, the fifty-eight (58) members of Parliament were distributed among the twenty-three (23) committees, comprising fourteen (14) Standing and nine (9) Select Committees.
This exercise was preceded by the committee of selection chaired by the Honourable Speaker of the National Assembly as mandated by the Standing Orders.