Janjanbureh Council’s No-Show Disrupts Parliamentary Select Committee’s Oversight Engagement

Hon Sulayman Jammeh, Chair of Parliamentary Select Committee on Regional Government, Lands, Ombudsman, and IEC © Askanwi

Select Committee on Regional Government Faces Disruption in Janjanbureh Oversight Engagement

By The Gambia National Assembly Media Team

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 meeting was intended to provide the Committee with a comprehensive update on the Council’s activities, successes, and challenges, while also allowing Members to inspect ongoing projects and make key recommendations. However, the failure of Council officials to attend hindered these efforts, leaving the Committee unable to fulfil its oversight mandate.

This is not the first instance of strained engagements 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 an explanation.

Expressing deep concern over the continued resistance from the Council, the Chairman of the Select Committee, Hon. Sulayman Jammeh emphasised the importance 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,” he stated. “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.”

Without effective oversight, monitoring public projects, addressing challenges, and ensuring responsible use of resources become difficult. The Committee’s inability to engage with the Council limits its capacity to make informed recommendations for improved governance in the region.

The matter is expected to be reported to the National Assembly, which may consider further measures to address the Council’s lack of cooperation. This 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 prioritise cooperation and mutual respect for the oversight role of the National Assembly, stressing that parliamentary scrutiny is not adversarial but aimed at supporting 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.”

*Askanwi media will look to engage National Assembly members and Janjangbureh Council on the latter’s failure to attend the scheduled oversight meeting.