Pan African Parliament holds Committee Sittings

Hon Roger Nkodo DANG, PAP President

 In line with provisions of its rules of procedure, the March 2019 Sittings of the Permanent Committees of the Fifth Parliament of the Pan African Parliament (PAP) commenced today at the seat of the Parliament in Midrand, South Africa. The Sittings will be held until 09 March 2019.

According to Rule 22 of PAP’s Rules of Procedure, the Parliment performs its functions through ten Permanent Committees to which another, the Committee on Audit and Public Accounts (CAPA), was added. These Committees are:

• Committee on Rural Economy, Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment,
• Committee on Monetary and Financial Affairs;
• Committee on Trade, Customs and Immigration Matters;
• Committee on Cooperation, International Relations and Conflict Resolutions;
• Committee on Transport, Industry, Communications, Energy, Science and Technology;
• Committee on Health, Labour and Social Affairs;
• Committee on Education, Culture, Tourism and Human Resources;
• Committee on Gender, Family, Youths and People with Disabilities;
• Committee on Justice and Human Rights;
• Committee on Rules, Privileges and Discipline.

Mr. Yusupha JOBE, Acting Clerk

According to  release by the Acting Clerk of Parliament Mr. Yusupha JOBE the Parliamentarians will devote time to unpacking the African Union theme of 2019; ‘Year of Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons in Africa; Towards durable Solutions to Forced Displacement.’ 

Committees will again take further sessions on modalities for making Model Laws in order to support initiatives that include promotion of the rights of people with albinism, strengthening policing in Africa and protection of cultural properties and heritage.

Mr. Jobe added that “following the ordinary session held in Kigali in October 2018, members of Parliament have indicated the urgent need to unpack and address the challenges of electoral democracy in Africa and will also interact with the University of South Africa (UNISA) to look into the role of Universities in promotion of Intra African Trade.”

Pan African Parliament is a legislative organ of the African Union. It is intended to give all African States a platform to take part in discussions and decision-making on the problems and challenges facing the continent. The Parliament has eleven Permanent Committees whose functions are aligned to those of the African Union Commissions.

The March Sittings will be officiated by the PAP President, Hon Roger Nkodo DANG.