The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas, has issued a stern warning to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) that fail to attend ongoing debates on the 2026 National Budget, saying they risk punitive action for non-compliance.
Speaking on Thursday, 4 December 2025, during the second day of deliberations, Speaker Thomas reinforced his directive to the Clerk of Parliament to ensure that senior officials of all MDAs are present throughout the discussions.
He stressed that the national budget is central to the operations of every ministry and that their participation is essential.
“The 2026 budget is the lifeline that will fund the programmes of every Ministry,” he said. “It is important for MDAs to witness how MPs scrutinise the allocation of resources, because that debate shapes the implementation of government policies.”
The Speaker commended institutions that attended the opening session, describing their presence as a demonstration of accountability and adherence to parliamentary procedures. But he criticised the noticeable absenteeism of several agencies, calling it a violation of parliamentary instructions.
“The Clerk will record every MDA that ignores this directive,” Speaker Thomas cautioned. “When the time comes for budget appropriation, Parliament will take action against those in contempt, which may include suspension of funds or other sanctions.”
The warning comes as MPs continue detailed debates on budget priorities, including health, education, infrastructure and social protection.
Political observers note that enforcing MDA attendance could reinforce accountability in future parliamentary engagements and strengthen the budget approval process.
The budget debate is expected to conclude later this week, after which the Appropriation Bill will be reviewed by the Committee of Supplies for final approval. The Clerk has been instructed to compile a full list of absentee MDAs for action by the Speaker.
