Speaker Slams MPs Over Absenteeism and Rogue Summons
By Abdul Rahman Bah
During a parliamentary session at Tower Hill, Freetown, on Tuesday, 29 April 2025, Retired Hon. Speaker Segepoh Solomon Thomas expressed deep concern over the chronic issues of poor attendance and lateness among Members of Parliament. He announced plans to convene a full-house meeting in Committee Room 1 next week to address these issues collectively, emphasizing the need for agreed-upon sanctions to uphold the integrity of the House. The Speaker criticized the growing culture of tardiness, calling it an embarrassment and a disservice to the citizens who elected the members. Additionally, he revealed concerns raised by the President regarding parliamentary committees summoning various institutions and diplomatic missions without coordination or proper authority. To address this, the Speaker scheduled a meeting with all committee clerks to establish stricter guidelines and accountability measures for issuing summons, warning that violations will result in disciplinary action.
