Starting on Tuesday, February 6, 2024, Members of Parliament will begin their sessions by reciting the National Pledge.
This marks the implementation of the new Standing Orders.
The new Standing Orders require MPs to also undergo a roll call at the start of proceedings.
It also introduces a requirement for heads of state agencies to appear before Parliament to address queries directly.
The previous Standing Orders allowed Ministers of State to represent the heads of institutions during questioning.
According to Ahmed Ibrahim, the First Deputy Minority Whip, that will no longer be the case.
READ ALSO: Parliament To Reconvene Tuesday
“Independent bodies like the Electoral Commission, the CHRAJ boss, the BoG governor, NCCE, and the Auditor General are going to be questioned just as we question ministers on the Floor and the mode of answering questions on the Floor has also been provided in the new Standing Orders.
“Previously, if you wanted to invite the EC, they would say he had no audience on the Floor and if the Common Fund administrator needed to come unless the discussion was led by the Minister but this time around, it is not going to be the same,” he said.
He added that the administrators can come and be interrogated by a committee, can be questioned, and can respond to the questions.
Mr Ibrahim explained that the mode of answering the questions has been catered for in the new Standing Orders.