The House of Representatives has dissolved all its ad hoc committees over their failure to complete their assignments and submit reports within the timelines prescribed by the House Standing Orders.
The directive was contained in a circular issued by the Clerk of the House, Sidi Ibrahim, and addressed to chairmen and members of the affected committees.
According to the circular, the dissolution took effect on Friday, 28 August.
Ibrahim said the decision followed repeated directives by the House for the committees to conclude their assignments and submit their reports in line with established rules and procedures.
He disclosed that only two ad hoc committees had requested and obtained extensions in accordance with Order Eighteen, Rule 5 of the Standing Orders. However, the two-week extension granted to the committees had already elapsed.
“Having exceeded the time allotted, the continued existence of the Ad Hoc Committees is no longer tenable,” the Clerk stated.
The House explained that ad hoc committees were created to carry out specific and time-bound assignments and were not intended to operate indefinitely beyond the purpose and duration for which they were established.
It cited Order Eighteen, Rule 11, Paragraph 5 of the Standing Orders, which sets out limitations on the time within which committees are required to submit their reports.
Consequently, the House directed the affected committees to immediately stop all activities being carried out under their mandates.
The chairmen were also instructed to submit all outstanding reports, working documents, records and other materials relating to their assignments to the Office of the Clerk for safekeeping.
Not the First Time
The latest action is not the first time the House has taken measures against committees over delays in completing legislative assignments.
On 9 October 2025, the House warned standing committees handling pending bills to submit their reports within one week or risk being discharged of the assignments.
The directive was part of efforts by the House leadership to ensure compliance with deadlines for legislative business.
The warning was subsequently enforced on 29 October 2025, when several standing committees were discharged from responsibilities relating to bills after failing to submit their reports within the stipulated period.
The House again reminded committees with outstanding assignments to submit their reports on 28 January 2026, highlighting continued concerns over delays in legislative proceedings.
The latest directive, however, specifically affects ad hoc committees, whose mandates are temporary and tied to particular assignments.
The dissolution means that committees that failed to complete their assignments or obtain valid extensions before the deadline are no longer authorised to continue operating under their existing mandates.
