Speaker of the National Assembly, Fabakary Tombong Jatta, has urged lawmakers to thoroughly examine the proposed 2027 National Budget to ensure public resources are used transparently and for the benefit of Gambians. He made the remarks at the 2026 National Assembly Outreach/Social Audit held at Bakadaji Hotel, which brought together representatives from Banjul, Kanifing Municipality, and the West Coast Region, alongside lawmakers, civil society organisations, development partners, and the media.
Jatta emphasized that the Assembly's constitutional responsibility to represent citizens cannot be effectively carried out without listening to the people. He stated that a parliament that does not listen to its citizens will eventually stop speaking for them. The national budget, he noted, is a clear statement of a nation's priorities, and the Assembly holds the constitutional power of the purse as lawmakers prepare to consider the 2027 Budget.
The Speaker urged lawmakers to ask critical questions about budget allocations, including whether they reflect the real needs of communities, whether previous allocations were spent as intended, and whether citizens can follow where public money goes. He called on lawmakers to scrutinise the estimates rigorously and on citizens to follow the budget process closely and hold them accountable.
Jatta also stressed the importance of implementing recommendations from the Auditor General and the Public Accounts Committee, stating that findings would mean little without corrective action. He further emphasized that the Constituency Development Fund must be used transparently and responsibly, as the resources are public funds and subject to scrutiny by citizens.
The Speaker highlighted recent legislative work, including the Criminal Procedure Bill and Consumer Protection Bill, which have passed Second Reading and are proceeding to Committee stage. He assured that the Assembly would not rush legislation at the expense of proper scrutiny and public input.
Clerk of the National Assembly, Kalipha M.M. Mbye, explained that the two-day outreach was intended to bring Parliament closer to citizens and give communities an opportunity to raise concerns about public services, stalled projects, and the use of resources. He described the social audit as an exercise in mutual accountability and urged participants to ask questions freely and hold the institution accountable.
The engagement followed a Pre-Budget Analysis Retreat for the media, convened by the Clerk's Office to examine key aspects of the proposed 2027 National Budget and government's revenue and expenditure priorities. The Speaker's call for tougher scrutiny of the budget and public funds reflects the Assembly's commitment to transparency and accountability in the management of public resources.
Key points
- The Speaker of the National Assembly, Fabakary Tombong Jatta, has called for rigorous scrutiny of the proposed 2027 National Budget to ensure public resources are used transparently and for the benefit of Gambians.
