By Sulaiman Jalloh

Parliament is expected to enforce section 95 of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone. House Speaker Hon. Sengepoh Solomon Thomas made the announcement on Friday 15th November, 2024, while the Minister of Finance (MOF) Sheku Ahmed Fatamadi Bangura was reading Budget in the House of Parliament.

“The very day I was elected Speaker of this House, I vowed that Section 95 will take full effect in this House,” Hon. Sengepoh reechoed.

Section 95 of the constitution states that, “Any act or omission which obstructs or impedes Parliament in the performance of its functions, or which obstructs or impedes any Member of Parliament, or which tends either directly or indirectly to produce a result shall be a contempt of Parliament”.

The Speaker’s pronouncement followed after both leaders of the House raised concern over social media publication from the just passed Finance Act 2024 talked about 5% imported duty tax that the ruling party attempted to impose rice, something Hon. Mathew Nyuma, the leader of government business, called misinformation.

Over the years, the Speaker said the previous speakers have been warning people who have been bashing or saying things which are not true about the House, but that under his leadership, section 95 will be fully implemented hence he wants the public to do follow-up on issues they don’t understand about the proceedings and works of Parliament. “That is more the reason we allow people to come here for them to know and ask the Office of the Clerk of Parliament with the necessary questions that needed answers. That is the reason I don’t go to social media because people are misusing it,” the Speaker said, saying Parliament will deal with anyone found of contempt of Parliament accordingly.