Anti-Corruption Bill, Elections Bill and 2024 Budget Scheduled for Parliament’s Fourth Ordinary Session

By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT

The Gambia’s National Assembly has revised the commencement of the Fourth Ordinary Session of the 2023 Legislative Year from 13^th November to 17^th November 2023. Parliament’s agenda highlights that the Elections Bill, the Anti-Corruption Bill and the 2024 Budget are all set for Parliamentary Approval before the end of the year. In addition to this, three private member’s Bills will be tabled for their first and second reading while four other Bills are scheduled to face their third and final reading.

Last week Tuesday 7^th November 2023, Parliament’s Office of the Clerk issued a statement announcing that the Fourth Ordinary Session would be convened from “Monday 13^th November – Friday 22^nd December, 2023”. However, the following day, another statement was issued highlighting that the Fourth Ordinary Session will now be convened from “Friday 17^th November – Friday 22^nd December, 2023”. Attached to the press release was an Agenda which highlights Parliament’s schedule for the Fourth Ordinary Session.

2024 Budget to Pass by 12^th December

Regarding the 2024 Budget, the Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs is scheduled to lay the 2024 Budget on 17^th November 2023, after which a Pre-Budget Retreat will be held from 18^th to 20^th November 2023.

From 21^st to 24^th November 2023 the Parliament’s Committees will host bilateral consultations with portfolio Ministries and other stakeholders with their report expected to be completed by 26^th November 2023. After all the consultations and meetings Parliament’s Finance and Public Accounts Committee (FPAC) will table their Consolidated Report on the 2024 Budget on 27^th November 2023 which will be debated until 30^th November 2023.

After all the amendments to the 2024 Budget are observed the Finance Minister will deliver his all-important 2024 Budget Speech on 8^th December 2023 followed by approval of the 2024 Appropriation Bill on 12^th December 2024.

Anti-Corruption Bill, Elections Bill and Others

The most talked about Anti-Corruption Bill will be tabled for its reconsideration stage on 18^th December 2023 where clauses 2 and 75 will be reviewed. The Anti-Corruption Bill will then face its third reading on 21^st December 2023. On that same day, the all-important Elections Bill and the Animal Health Bill will also face their third reading.

Another three Bills are earmarked to face the consideration stage on 14^th December 2023, which is when Parliament goes through the Bills clause by clause to approve or reject any amendments. After the consideration of the Criminal Offences Bill, the Criminal Procedure Bill and the Legal Practitioners (Amendment) Bill, they will all be tabled for their third reading on 21^st December 2023 which is when they are expected to be passed or rejected.

Three Private Member’s Bills Imminent

In the Third Ordinary Session of the 2023 Legislative Year, two private member’s Bills were successfully passed after being tabled by Hon Alhagie Mbow for Upper Saloum (Constitution [Amendment] Bill 2023) and Hon Amadou Camara for Nianija (Medicines and Related Products [Amendment} Bill 2023). In a similar development, the Fourth Ordinary Session will see three members table Bills for their First Reading on 14^th December 2023. The Private Members Bills to be tabled are;

1. The Rent (Amendment) Bill by Hon Madi M K Ceesay for Serrekunda West,
2. The Local Government (Amendment) Bill by Hon Yahya Sanyang for Latrikunda Sabiji and
3. The Public Order (Amendment) Bill by Hon Sulayman Saho for Central Baddibu.

In addition to this, the Vice President is scheduled to table the National Social Protection Bill while the Minister for Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment is also scheduled to table the Gambia Legal Metrology Bill for its first reading on the same day. All these five aforementioned Bills will face their second reading on 19^th December 2023 after which it will face a vote to either continue considering the Bills or to reject them.

Parliamentary Questions, Treaties and Adjournment Debate

One of the opportunities which Parliamentarians have to hold the Executive accountable is by asking probing Parliamentary questions to cabinet Ministers and the Vice President. Members will have two rounds of Questions for Oral Answers with the first round scheduled for 13^th December 2023 while the second round will be held on 20^th December 2023. Before all this, three international treaties are expected to be tabled for ratification on 5^th December 2023 while the Adjournment Debate will be held on 21^st December 2023 and conclude on 22^nd December 2023. The Adjournment Debate signifies the end of a Parliamentary Session and in this case the end of the 2023 Legislative Year.