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Written by: Seringe ST Touray
Not a single National Assembly Member spoke when lawmakers were given the opportunity to debate the government’s proposed D59.24 billion budget for 2027 on Monday, allowing the bill to advance through its second reading without discussion.
The sitting was delayed for about 45 minutes because only 27 lawmakers were initially present, leaving the Assembly without a quorum. This came just weeks after Speaker Fabakary Tombong Jatta called for rigorous scrutiny of government spending.
In December last year, 24 lawmakers voted against debating the 2026 Appropriation Bill, while only six supported a debate and 10 abstained.
Although lawmakers had earlier examined the 2027 budget estimates, the repeated absence of debate at this stage raises questions about parliamentary accountability and oversight.
