Hon Fatoumatta Jahumpa-Ceesay, the speaker of the National Assembly, has taken on Hon Sidia Jatta, the NAM for Wulli West, on whether the secretaries of state should be forced by the Assembly to attend adjournment debates.

According to Speaker Jahumpa Ceesay, the Assembly has no constitutional power to force a secretary of state to attend sittings, particularly the adjournment debates. However, she maintained that this could only be done after a request for them to come and answer questions during the proceedings.

The speaker's clarification came following the remarks made by Hon Jatta, who recently scolded secretaries of state for their absentism during the adjournment debates.

She backed her argument with Section 74 of the 1997 Constitution, saying "I am not holding brief for the Executive branch of the government, because I am the head of the legislature. But the fact of the matter is that the secretaries of state are not compelled by the Constitution to be attending adjournment debates. They can do so if they wish, but it is not compulsory.

They can only attend sittings when they are to lay motions, bills or answer questions, but not adjournment debates. The adjournment debate is meant for NAMs and not secretaries of state. This is why we have the separation of powers under the Jammeh administration. This is highlighted under Section 77 part 3 (2) of the 1997 Constitution, which states that the National Assembly may request for the secretaries of state to attend a sitting of the National Assembly, for discussions of any matter of national importance, but not on adjournment debates".

She then referred Hon Jatta to Sub-section 4 of the Constitution, which states that "the vice-president or secretaries of state shall, when requested by the National Assembly, report in on any matter, concerning a department or other businesses of government committed to his or her charge and shall be entitled to attend and speak in the Assembly, whenever any bill or matter concerning his or her department," is being presented.
 
"In fact, you Sidia Jatta should know because you do snatch your Foroyaa newspaper editorials from the Constitution daily. You should be fluent with what the law says," she charged.

Speaker FJC also clarified that only the Assembly Select Committees have the power to call an SoS at committee levels, but not to attend sittings, especially during adjournment debates. Meanwhile, the speaker has suggested to the state department responsible for National Assembly Matters, to appoint a desk officer, who would be attending sittings on their behalf.