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"content": "Second communication. Hon. Members, over the past several weeks, my attention has been drawn to apparent difficulties being encountered by Members with respect to making a distinction between ordinary Questions and Questions by Private Notice and the scope and form of Ministerial Statements. I would, therefore, like to provide the following guidance to assist Members to appropriately utilise the various processes in executing their mandate. Hon. Members, Section 17(3) of the Constitution states as follows and I quote:- \"The Cabinet shall be collectively responsible to the National Assembly for all things done by or under the authority of the President, or the Vice-President or any other Minister in the execution of his office\" The House, through the Standing Orders, has devised mechanisms to ensure due performance of this function by the Government. One among this is the provision to Members to ask Questions. In this regard, I request hon. Members to familiarise themselves with the provisions of Part IX of the Standing Orders. Standing Order No.35 (1), for example, states as follows:- \"Questions may be put to a Minister relating to public affairs with which he is officially connected to proceedings in the House or to any matter of administration for which he/she is responsible\" The Standing Orders classify Questions into two categories, namely; Ordinary Questions and Questions by Private Notice. Ordinary Questions may seek either oral or written replies. The difference between these forms of Questions relate to the content and urgency of the matter. For Ordinary Questions, Ministers are allowed ten days to respond, whereas they are expected to answer Questions by Private Notice within two sitting days, following notice thereof, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order No.36(2) which states as follows:- \"Questions which in the opinion of Mr. Speaker are of an urgent character and relate either to matter of public importance or to the arrangement of business may also be asked of a Minister after private notice and shall be answered within the next two sitting days following such notice\". I would like to specifically draw the attention of the House to the provisions of Standing Order No.35(2). This is important, Members. Please, note that. It states:- \"A Question shall be of a genuinely interrogative character and its purpose shall be limited to seeking information or pressing for action. Standing Order No.35(3) further defines the scope of Questions as follows:- \" A Question shall not be made the pretext for a debate\". July 24, 2008 PARLIMENTARY DEBATES 2103 We appear to be doing this only too often. The Chair has had occasion to enforce this rule. For instance, on 6th July, 1994, Mr. Speaker directed as follows: \"This is Question Time. You are supposed to rise, ask Questions and not to support or reject any philosophy. There is time for accepting or rejecting philosophy.\" The Chair, therefore, normally allows other Members to put supplementary questions to the Minister, arising from the answer he or she gave to the original Question. Members should, therefore, not use the opportunity given to them to ask supplementary questions and ask completely different Questions. Members shall also note that Question Time is not considered as part of the House Business. Therefore, the period spent in deliberating on Questions should be managed in such a way that it does not encroach on or eat into Business Time. With regard to Ministerial Statements, the established practice is that they cover issues of a wider range that are both of urgent nature and require immediate urgent action, and that cannot, consequently, be dealt with through Questions aptly. These are normally issues that entail policy. Ministers also are at liberty to use the opportunity to brief the House and country on critical issues of policy, incidents or actions in order to place them on the official record or public domain. Consequently, Members are expected to ask for clarifications arising from the contents of the Ministerial Statement and not to question, oppose or support the Ministerial Statement per se. Finally, while a Ministerial Statement may be requested by a Member or a Minister may, out of his or her own volition, furnish the House with one, a Question, whether Ordinary or by Private Notice, must be filed by a Member and put on the Order Paper. It is further directed that Members seeking Ministerial Statements shall give indication before the Sitting commences. In other words, it is not expected that Members will approach the Chair, as you have been doing, to seek an opportunity to be accorded a chance to ask for Ministerial Statements. We have had a lot of this and it has been distractive on the Chair. I hope that this information will be useful to Members. I, however, recommend that Members intending to ask Questions or request for Ministerial Statements will be at liberty to contact the office of the Clerk for necessary assistance. Thank you."
}