Government Urges Patience as Petroleum Report Awaits Official Adoption by National Assembly

By Buba Gagigo 

The Government of The Gambia has responded to growing public calls for immediate executive action following the circulation of a report by the National Assembly’s Joint Committee on the alleged illegal importation and sale of petroleum products. In a statement issued this week, the government clarified that the report remains unofficial and has not yet been debated or adopted by the National Assembly in plenary.

“The Government of The Gambia has taken note of recent commentary and public appeals circulating in both social and mainstream media, calling for immediate executive action regarding the findings of a report from the Joint Committee of FPAC/PEC of the National Assembly inquiry into the alleged illegal Importation and Sale of Petroleum Products.”

The government emphasized its commitment to transparency, accuracy, and institutional integrity, and issued the following key clarifications:

1. The report in question remains an internal document of the National Assembly and has not been officially debated or adopted by the National Assembly in plenary session.
2. In accordance with the Standing Orders of the National Assembly, a committee report attains formal status only when it has been laid before and adopted by the Assembly. Until such time, it does not constitute a report of the National Assembly.
3. Furthermore, Sections 100 and 106 of the 1997 Constitution affirm that the National Assembly acts through laws and resolutions duly passed in plenary. The Government can only respond to matters that have been formally communicated through appropriate legislative channels.
4. This has been further stipulated in Order 100(1) of the Standing Orders of the National Assembly requiring the Government for a minister in whose portfolio the matter falls to reply within thirty days of a resolution of the Assembly or adoption of any report of a Committee of the National Assembly.
5. As of the date of this release, the Government of The Gambia has not received any official report or resolution from the National Assembly requiring executive consideration on this matter.

Reaffirming its respect for the separation of powers, the government stated:

“Particularly, the respect for the oversight role of the National Assembly remains committed to upholding the principles of accountability, due process, and the rule of law. However, executive responses must be grounded in formally adopted resolutions or reports from the Assembly, and not on unofficial, leaked, or internal Committee documents.”

The statement concluded with an appeal to the public to remain calm and allow due process to unfold. “The Government assures the people of The Gambia that it remains attentive to developments in this matter and will take all necessary and appropriate action once the proper parliamentary procedures have been concluded and official communication has been received,” the statement added.