By Hassan Osman Kargbo
A Member of Parliament from the opposition All People’s Congress, Hon Osman Timbo, has raised serious procedural concerns over a bill recently tabled in Parliament, warning that failure to comply with mandatory legal requirements could invalidate the entire process.
Speaking on Wake Up Sierra Leone on AYV Television, Hon Timbo emphasised that the issue at stake is not political disagreement, but strict adherence to parliamentary procedure and the rule of law. According to him, the language of the law is clear and leaves no room for discretion.
“The most important word there is shall. It makes it mandatory. Shall not be passed means that because of this procedural impropriety, since it has not been done, this bill cannot be passed,” Timbo stated during the programme.
He explained that the concern centres on publication requirements that must be met before a bill can lawfully proceed through Parliament. Hon Timbo disclosed that the bill in question was tabled for the first time, yet only one publication was made, dated 25 December, which he said was the copy circulated to Members of Parliament.
“This bill was tabled in Parliament for the first time. However, it came to my notice that only one publication was made on the 25th of December, and that was the copy sent to us in Parliament,” he said.
The lawmaker stressed that proper publication is not a formality but a constitutional safeguard designed to ensure transparency, public awareness, and informed debate. He argued that bypassing this requirement undermines democratic principles and weakens public trust in legislative processes.
Hon Timbo further warned against what he described as potential bad faith in the handling of the bill. He said withdrawing the bill on the grounds of procedural defects, only to reintroduce it later without addressing the underlying concerns, would raise serious questions about intent.
“It boils down to two things: good faith and bad faith. If they withdraw this bill because of a procedural defect and then bring it back to Parliament at the next sitting, that means they are acting in bad faith,” he said.
According to Timbo, acting in good faith would require full compliance with the law, including proper publication and allowing adequate time for public scrutiny before the bill is reconsidered. Anything short of that, he warned, could set a dangerous precedent for future legislation.
The APC lawmaker called on parliamentary authorities and the sponsoring body of the bill to respect established procedures and avoid actions that could expose Parliament to legal challenges. He maintained that safeguarding due process ultimately protects the integrity of Parliament of Sierra Leone and the democratic system as a whole.
His comments have added to growing public debate around legislative transparency and accountability, with civil society actors and legal observers closely monitoring developments. As discussions continue, attention remains focused on whether the bill will proceed in its current form or be halted pending compliance with procedural requirements.
For Hon Timbo, the issue is clear. The law, he insists, must be followed to the letter, not selectively, if Parliament is to retain its credibility and moral authority in the eyes of the public.
