By Tracy Moses
The House of Representatives has dissolved all its Ad Hoc Committees and directed them to cease operations forthwith and submit outstanding reports and other materials relating to their assignments.
The directive, issued by the Clerk of the House of Representatives, Sidi Ibrahim, on the instruction of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D., GCON, took effect on Friday, August 28, 2026.
In a circular addressed to the chairmen and members of all Ad Hoc Committees, the Clerk said the decision followed earlier directives by the House urging the temporary panels to conclude their assignments and submit their reports in accordance with the Standing Orders and established practice of the House.
Ibrahim said only two Ad Hoc Committees had sought and obtained extensions of time to complete their assignments in accordance with Order Eighteen, Rule 5 of the Standing Orders.
He noted, however, that the two-week extension granted to the two committees had since expired.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Honourable Members are reminded that Ad Hoc Committees are temporary Committees of the House established for specific and time-bound mandates. They are not intended to subsist indefinitely beyond the purpose and period for which they were constituted,” the Clerk stated.
The House also invoked Order Eighteen, Rule 11, Paragraph 5 of its Standing Orders, which provides for “Limitations as to time of Reports.”
The provision requires committees to submit their reports within the period allotted for their assignments.
According to Ibrahim, the failure of the affected committees to conclude their assignments within the prescribed timeframe meant that their continued existence could no longer be sustained.
“In accordance with Order Eighteen, Rule 11, Paragraph 5, of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives, which provides for ‘Limitations as to time of Reports’, Committees are required to submit their reports within the time allotted. Having exceeded the time allotted, the continued existence of the Ad Hoc Committees is no longer tenable,” he said.
Consequently, the Clerk directed that all activities being conducted in the name of the dissolved committees must cease forthwith.
The chairmen of the affected committees were also directed to forward all outstanding reports, working documents, records and other materials relating to their assignments to the Office of the Clerk of the House for safekeeping.
The dissolution underscores the temporary and time-bound nature of Ad Hoc Committees, which are constituted by the House to undertake specific assignments outside the routine responsibilities of its standing committees.
The Clerk urged all affected lawmakers to take note of the directive and ensure strict compliance.