Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas has instructed all parliamentary committees to include members of the Parliamentary Press Gallery (PPG-SL) in their nationwide oversight engagements, signaling a bid to promote transparency and rebuild public confidence in the legislature.
Delivering the directive during a recent plenary session, the Speaker acknowledged the role of the media in democratic accountability, noting that parliamentary reporters have a deeper understanding of legislative procedures and are therefore better positioned to accurately relay parliamentary activities to the public.
“Please, when you go on oversight, involve members of the parliamentary press Gallery,” the speaker urged committee heads, reinforcing his call for greater media engagement in parliamentary affairs.
The new measure is expected to ensure real-time coverage of how Members of Parliament (MPs) conduct their oversight functions, particularly during monitoring visits relating to budget expenditure, project implementation and service delivery across the country. The Speaker also encouraged parliamentary committees to coordinate oversight activities with Paramount Chiefs and local authorities to foster wider stakeholder inclusion.
Members of the Parliamentary Press Gallery welcomed the directive, describing it as a step toward restoring professional access that they say had been limited in recent years. Acting President Feima Sesay hailed the decision as a major milestone, while veteran reporter Abdul Rahman Wurrie commended it as timely.
“I am happy that the Speaker has instructed the inclusion of PPG-SL members in all oversight duties. we have missed many key functions in recent years, but this is a step in the right direction,” She noted.
Despite the positive reception, some journalists raised concerns over whether the directive will be fully implemented by committee chairpersons. Acting Vice President Aliue Amara Suwu noted past instances in which journalists were excluded from meetings or barred using Standing Orders and proposed that parliamentary leadership review oversight team lists to ensure press inclusion before approving funding for visits.
“In recent years, we have been treated with disregard. some MPs and clerks have excluded us from meetings or even used standing orders to ban us from reporting”, Suwu revealed. He stated further, “Now that the speaker has ruled, the question is, will committee chairpersons and clerks comply?”
Observers say the Speaker’s ruling aims to close the information gap between Parliament and the public, heighten scrutiny of public spending, and enhance citizens’ trust in the parliamentary process. As committees prepare for upcoming oversight exercises, attention will be focused on whether the directive translates into consistent on the ground access for the press.
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