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The Rt. Hon. Speaker, Segepoh Solomon Thomas, has reminded Members of Parliament (MPs) of their constitutional duty to serve the people of Sierra Leone, invoking Section 97(b) of Act No. 6 of the 1991 Constitution to underscore the ethical foundation of parliamentary service.
Opening the sitting after a prolonged recess, Speaker Thomas told lawmakers that their foremost obligation is to their constituents, not party interests or personal gain. He quoted Section 97(b), which states: “All Members of Parliament shall regard themselves as representatives of the people of Sierra Leone and desist from any conduct by which they seek improperly to enrich themselves or alienate themselves from the people.”
The Speaker welcomed Members back to the House and reaffirmed that MPs were elected to serve the people of Sierra Leone. He explained that the extended adjournment was deliberate, arranged to allow the All People’s Congress (APC) to complete its lower-level elections and to accommodate the Eid holiday. According to him, the decision to grant additional time was taken in good faith to avoid placing any party at a disadvantage while internal elections were ongoing.
Speaker Thomas urged Members to use parliamentary attendance for legislative and oversight work rather than as a platform for pressuring government action. He emphasized that there are many formal mechanisms—“more than one hundred and ten,” he said—through which Parliament can urge government action, cautioning against using attendance merely to press demands.
“You have been elected by your people. You come to this House of Parliament to serve the Republic of Sierra Leone. All other considerations are secondary,” the Speaker said, acknowledging party affiliations but stressing that representation of the people is paramount.
To foster dialogue and coordination, the Speaker invited the leadership of the APC in Parliament to a special meeting in his Chambers, scheduled for Wednesday, 25 March 2026, at 1:00 PM prompt. The meeting is expected to address the transition back to regular sittings and any outstanding matters arising from the recess.
With sittings resuming and a busy legislative calendar ahead, the Speaker’s reminder places constitutional duty and public service at the centre of parliamentary expectations. The Parliamentary and Public Relations Department issued the statement on behalf of the Parliament of Sierra Leone.
