Post a comment 
The Speaker of the House of Parliament, Segepoh Solomon Thomas Esq., has warned Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) that those failing to attend the ongoing debate on the 2026 National Budget will face punitive action.
He issued the warning on Thursday, 4th December 2025, while speaking on the second allotted day of the budgetary discussions. Speaker Thomas reiterated his directive to the Clerk of Parliament to ensure that senior representatives of all MDAs are present to witness the deliberations.
“The 2026 budget is the lifeline that will fund the programmes of every ministry. It is incumbent on MDAs to witness how Members of Parliament scrutinise the allocation of resources, because that debate shapes the implementation of government policies,” he said.
The Speaker commended MDAs that attended the first day of debate, describing their presence as a sign of commitment to transparent governance. However, he expressed disappointment at the number of absent agencies, calling their non-attendance a breach of parliamentary directives.
“The Clerk will record every MDA that ignores this directive,” Speaker Thomas warned. “When the time comes for the appropriation of the budget, Parliament will take action against those in contempt, which may include suspension of funds or other sanctions.”
His remarks come as legislators continue to examine the budget line by line, highlighting priorities in health, education, infrastructure, and social protection.
Parliament is expected to conclude the budgetary debate later this week, after which the Appropriation Bill will be considered by MPs through the Committee of Supply for final approval of budgetary allocations, heads, and estimates.
The Clerk has been instructed to compile a list of absentee MDAs for the Speaker’s review before penalties are applied.
