In a stunning development, Honourable Yahya Menteng Sanyang, National Assembly Member (NAM) for Latrikunda Sabiji Constituency, resigned today as Chairperson of the Subsidiary Legislation Committee, citing the committee’s inability to fulfill its mandate. The announcement, effective immediately, was formalized in a letter addressed to the Honourable Speaker of the National Assembly on March 6, 2025.
Sanyang’s resignation stems from his growing frustration with what he describes as a “lack of consistent commitment” to the committee’s roles and functions, as outlined in Section 119(2) of the National Assembly’s Standing Orders. The provision mandates the committee to “scrutinise, advise, and report” on subsidiary legislation presented before the Assembly. However, Sanyang argued that a recent decision has rendered the committee “ineffective, useless, and irrelevant.”
In his letter, Sanyang pointed to a National Assembly report adopted on January 6, 2025, which he claims allows ministers and the executive to formulate subsidiary legislation without parliamentary oversight. “The National Assembly shall not have any business to scrutinise regulations by the ministers and the executive,” he wrote, referencing the decision. “This has made the committee I chair meaningless.”
Expressing regret, Sanyang stated that continuing as chairperson would be “counterproductive” and fail to serve the interests of his constituents in Latrikunda Sabiji or the broader Gambian populace. “I cannot in good conscience remain in a position where I receive a sitting allowance without doing anything meaningful for The Gambian people,” he declared. He further lamented the committee’s inability to hold the executive accountable for policies and regulations tied to primary legislation, a core aspect of its mandate.
Despite stepping down, Sanyang reaffirmed his commitment to good governance and the rule of law, urging the National Assembly to address the challenges undermining the committee’s effectiveness. “I hope necessary steps will be taken to restore its purpose,” he wrote, thanking the Speaker for the opportunity to serve.
Sanyang’s resignation has sparked speculation about its broader implications for parliamentary oversight in The Gambia, with observers noting it exposes tensions between the legislature and the executive. As of press time, the Speaker’s office had not issued an official response to the letter, leaving questions about the committee’s future unanswered.
