By Fatou Sillah
The National Assembly on Monday passed the National Early Warning and Response Mechanism Bill, 2024, advancing the legislation through its second reading before sending it to the committee stage for amendments. The bill was introduced by Vice President Muhammed B. S. Jallow, who led the debate on its scope and national significance.
The legislation seeks to establish a National Early Warning and Response Mechanism Coordinating Centre as a statutory body tasked with anticipating and responding to emerging crises, conflicts, and threats to human security.
Under the bill, the Centre would gather and analyze information from government agencies, local authorities, civil society organizations, and regional early warning systems. It is designed to alert relevant authorities to risks that could undermine security, governance, public health, the environment, or social stability.
The framework sets out the Centre’s role as a national hub for strategic research, charged with providing recommendations to inform government decision-making. It also outlines governance and administrative structures, including the formation of a governing board and the appointment of a director general and staff.
Financial accountability provisions require annual reporting to both the Vice President and the National Assembly, while establishing rules for budgeting, auditing, and the management of public funds. The bill further provides confidentiality safeguards and penalties for unauthorized disclosure of information.
To ensure continuity, the legislation permits the transfer of existing staff and assets into the new structure. It also authorizes cooperation with ECOWAS early warning mechanisms and empowers the Vice President to issue regulations necessary for implementation.