PNC reconsiders move to close Parliament for Ramadan

Ibrahim Falah, the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC)’s top lawmaker, says the party is reconsidering the proposal to change the schedule of the Parliament’s sessions so that the legislative assembly is in recess throughout the holy month of Ramadan.

The Parliament holds three sessions in a year.

• First session: February 1 - May 15
• Second session: June 1 - August 15
• Third session: October 1 - November 30

On February 12, South Maafannu MP Abdulla Rifau (Bochey), a lawmaker from PNC, proposed amendments to the Parliament’s standing orders to change the schedule.

Proposed changes:

• First session: January 1 - January 31
• Second session: April 1 - July 31
• Third session: September 1 - November 30

The Parliament had opened for the year on February 6. Citing this, Rifau proposed concluding the current session at the end of February so that the Parliament is in recess during Ramadan – which is expected to begin on March 1, and following the proposed changes thereafter.

The changes were passed by the Parliament’s General Purpose Committee on February 13, and prompted public backlash, with some saying that Ramadan is a month for hard work, and questioning why high-paid parliamentarians should get a break during the month.

Falah told Sun on Sunday that the party decided to change the schedule so that the Parliament goes into recess during Ramadan because it will only be open for 20 days, with daily working hours limited to two hours.

He said that this limits the work that can be undertaken by the Parliament during Ramadan.

“We therefore decided that instead of this, we will make a different month where we are usually in recess a full working month,” said Falah, stressing that the proposed changes would not have changed the total working days.

Falah said that the public backlash had been prompted by the misconception that lawmakers were taking an extra holiday.

Falah said the PNC is reconsidering making the amendments in light of the backlash.

 “Its far better for us that we work nine two-hour days during Ramadan and take a break on a month that we are usually in full recess,” he said.

Falah said that lawmakers are in service of the public 24/7 – whether the Parliament is in session or not.

He also said that the amendments had nothing to do with President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.