Parliament to Scrutinize Laws Thoroughly Before Presidential Approval
By Emmanuel S Conteh
The Speaker of the Sixth Parliament, Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas, has emphasized the need for Parliament to carefully review every law or act, line by line and page by page, before it is sent for presidential assent.
Hon. Segepoh stated that this measure would help prevent any unauthorized alterations to laws enacted by Parliament.
“We cannot spend the whole day deliberating here, only for unscrupulous individuals to tamper with our work in their offices. I am saying this for a good reason,” he warned.
He further explained that once the president assents to a law, it becomes the responsibility of the Chairman of the Legislative Committee, Hon. Suliaman Marray Conteh, to formally announce it in Parliament.
In his admonition, Hon. Segepoh advised Hon. Conteh to incorporate the announcement of newly approved laws into the committee’s agenda.
“By doing so, Members of Parliament will be informed, and it will also serve as an initial notice to the general public,” he noted.
The Speaker assured lawmakers that no law passed by Parliament would be sent for presidential approval without thorough scrutiny.
He made these remarks on Thursday, March 13, 2025, in the Well of Parliament, during the approval and endorsement of the Counter-Terrorism Act 2025.
He reiterated that public announcements of newly approved laws would ensure transparency and inform citizens that the president has given assent.
In response, the Chairman of the Legislative Committee, Hon. Suliaman Conteh, revealed that three laws recently passed by Parliament were ready for presidential approval.
The Leader of Government Business in the Sixth Parliament, Hon. Sahr Mathew Nyuma, urged the Speaker to address such matters in his chambers. He suggested that discussing them privately would help clarify the role of the parliamentary clerks in ensuring efficiency.
“We would like to discuss this with your chambers regarding laws that are passed,” Hon. Nyuma stated.
The Speaker, however, questioned why Hon. Nyuma felt the need to respond to his remarks, cautioning him against unnecessary interjections.
“Leader, there is nothing urgent about lawmaking. We must be thorough. I raised similar concerns when I assumed the Speakership, particularly regarding the risk of tampering with our work,” he concluded.
