The House of Representatives has dissolved all its Ad Hoc Committees and ordered an immediate end to all activities being conducted in the name of the temporary panels.
The directive, issued by the Clerk of the House, Sidi Ibrahim, on the instruction of Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, took effect from Friday, August 28, 2026.
In a circular addressed to chairmen and members of the affected committees, the Clerk said the decision followed earlier directives by the House for the panels to conclude their assignments and submit their reports in line with the Standing Orders and established parliamentary practice.
Ibrahim disclosed that only two of the Ad Hoc Committees had applied for and received extensions under Order Eighteen, Rule 5 of the Standing Orders.
He said the two-week extension granted to the committees had expired, leaving the House with no basis to allow the temporary panels to continue operating.
“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 relied on Order Eighteen, Rule 11, Paragraph 5 of its Standing Orders, which provides for limitations on the time within which committees must submit their reports.
According to the Clerk, the affected committees had exceeded the time allotted for their assignments, making their continued existence untenable under the Rules.
“Having exceeded the time allotted, the continued existence of the Ad Hoc Committees is no longer tenable,” he said.
Consequently, Ibrahim directed that all activities being carried out under the name of the dissolved committees must stop immediately.
“Activities being carried out in the name of such Committees shall cease forthwith,” the circular stated.
Chairmen of the affected committees were also directed to submit all outstanding reports, working documents, records and other materials relating to their assignments to the Office of the Clerk for safekeeping.
The directive effectively ends the activities of the various temporary panels established by the House to handle specific assignments, investigations and inquiries within stipulated periods.
The Clerk urged all affected lawmakers to take note of the directive and ensure strict compliance.
