By Ramatoulie Jawo
The Minority Leader of the National Assembly, Hon. Alhagie S. Darboe and member for Brikama North, has moved the Local Government Amendment Bill 2022 for the second reading and debate on the general merits and principles of the bill.
This development came barely a week after the Bill had a setback on the 9th of March 2023 in which the National Assembly could not hold a session due to lack of quorum.
The mover of the motion, Hon. Darboe highlighted the objectives and reasons for the bill.
“This Bill seeks to enhance the independence of Local Government Area Councils. The Bill also seeks to promote the system of local governance, the autonomy of local government administrations, and decentralization, in furtherance of the provisions of section 193 of the Constitution of the Republic of The Gambia, 1997,” he said.
Hon. Darboe said the bill seeks to further amend the local government act 2002 to provide clarity regarding the term of Local Government Councils, the process for the removal from office of members of Local Government Councils, the right of appeal to the Court of Appeal by an aggrieved member, the giving of notice of intention to travel outside The Gambia by members and connected matters.
The move for the second reading of the bill was seconded by the Member for Lower Saloum Hon. Sainey Jawara.
The Speaker of the Assembly, Hon. Fabakary Tombong Jatta, then opened the floor for the debate on the general merits and principles of the local government amendment bill 2022.
All the members who participated in the debate showed their support and blessings for the bill.
The Speaker then referred the bill to the National Assembly Business Committee for committal to either a committee or committee of the whole assembly.