By Ramatoulie Jawo
The National Assembly Select Committee on Regional Government encountered significant challenges during its recent oversight engagement in Janjanbureh, according to a press statement issued by the National Assembly. The absence of key council officials resulted in the postponement of critical discussions and project visits, hindering the committee’s ability to effectively carry out its oversight responsibilities.
“The Select Committee on Regional Government, Lands, Ombudsman, and IEC faced yet another setback in Janjanbureh, as the Chairman, Deputy Chairman, and Councillors of the Janjanbureh Area Council failed to attend a scheduled oversight meeting. Their absence led to the postponement of discussions and the cancellation of planned project visits,” the statement noted.
The meeting was intended to provide committee members with a comprehensive update on the Council’s activities, successes, and challenges. Additionally, it was meant to facilitate inspections of ongoing projects and enable the committee to make key recommendations. However, the failure of council officials to attend prevented the committee from fulfilling its oversight mandate.
This is not the first instance of strained relations between the Select Committee and the Janjanbureh Area Council. During a 2022 oversight visit, tensions escalated when certain councillors displayed disruptive behaviour, prompting the committee to cancel the meeting and later summon the officials to the National Assembly for further clarification.
Chairman of the Select Committee, Hon. Sulayman Jammeh, underscored the significance of parliamentary oversight in ensuring accountability and good governance.
“The behaviour of the Janjanbureh Area Council is unacceptable and undermines the work of the National Assembly. Our oversight role is a constitutional duty aimed at improving governance and service delivery. The Council’s refusal to engage with us is a disservice to the citizens they are meant to serve.” they said.
The matter is expected to be reported to the National Assembly, which may consider additional measures to address the Council’s lack of cooperation. These could include summoning officials to account for their absence and exploring mechanisms to strengthen collaboration between the Council and the National Assembly.
Hon. Jammeh urged the Janjanbureh Area Council to prioritize cooperation and mutual respect for the oversight role of the National Assembly, emphasizing that parliamentary scrutiny is not adversarial but rather a mechanism to support local governments in achieving their development objectives.
“We urge the Janjanbureh Area Council to recognise the importance of our oversight role and engage with us constructively,” he said. “Together, we can address the challenges facing the region and work towards improving the lives of the people we serve.”