Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The National Assembly has approved the establishment of a Standing Committee on Government Assurances, a new parliamentary oversight body mandated to monitor, track, and enforce commitments made by government officials before the legislature.
The motion, moved by Majority Leader and Member for Kantora, Bilay G. Tunkara, was adopted following robust debate in which lawmakers broadly welcomed the initiative as a significant step toward deepening executive accountability and strengthening the oversight function of Parliament.
The new committee will be responsible for scrutinizing assurances given by the Vice President, ministers, and other government representatives during plenary sittings and committee meetings. Central to its mandate will be the maintenance of a Register of Assurances, a formal record documenting every commitment made, the expected timeline for implementation, and the current status of execution.
Presenting the motion, Hon. Tunkara argued that while the Constitution and Standing Orders already provide mechanisms for holding ministers accountable, no dedicated structure currently exists to systematically track assurances made by government officials before Parliament, a gap he described as undermining the legislature’s ability to enforce executive accountability.
The committee will be empowered to request information from ministries, departments, and agencies; assess the implementation of commitments, and submit quarterly reports to the Assembly. Where officials fail to honor their assurances, the committee may recommend appropriate action, including contempt proceedings.
Responding to contributions from members at the close of debate, Hon. Tunkara expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support, noting the absence of any opposition to the motion.
“There is no adverse opinion on the motion,” he said, adding that even members who did not take the floor appeared to be in favor of the proposal.
He said the discussion revealed a shared understanding among lawmakers of the pressing need for a committee solely dedicated to following up on commitments made by government officials in the chamber.
Addressing concerns raised about the composition of the new body, the Majority Leader stressed that it would require members capable of giving it focused and sustained attention. He disclosed that the Committee of Selection would convene to determine membership, assuring lawmakers that the composition would reflect the views and balance of the full Parliament.
Hon. Tunkara noted that although the National Assembly currently operates more than 20 committees, none carries a specific mandate to monitor and follow up on parliamentary assurances, a structural shortcoming the new committee is designed to remedy.
“We understand that Parliament only communicates decisions through resolutions and recommendations, and we will continue to communicate our resolutions,” he said.
He was, however, unequivocal that government officials who make commitments before the legislature must be held to account for their words.
“Anybody that stands in this chamber and makes a promise, we must make sure that your utterances and assurances are accountable,” he stated.
The Majority Leader reminded the House that promises made before the National Assembly are, in effect, promises made to the Gambian people, given that Parliament is the representative body of the entire nation.
“If you come as a state minister and make any assurance, any promise or any pledge, this committee will hold you responsible,” he declared.
He added that the Assembly would invoke its Standing Orders and constitutional powers to address cases where commitments go unfulfilled.
“If you don’t, we are going to use the relevant Standing Orders and contempt provisions of the Assembly to hold you accountable,” he warned.
Following the debate, the Speaker put the motion to a vote, and members overwhelmingly approved its adoption.
The establishment of the Standing Committee on Government Assurances marks a notable institutional reform in The Gambia’s parliamentary architecture.
By ensuring that promises made by government officials are formally recorded, systematically tracked, and rigorously followed through, the committee is expected to serve as a critical instrument for transparency, accountability and the restoration of public trust in governance.
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