The House of Representatives has resolved to ensure more accuracy in copies of bills passed by the National Assembly before transmitting them for assent of the president.
A member, Sada Soli, in a motion Tuesday expressed worries over allegations that some bills usually carry provisions different from what the parliament, citing a recent instance where the president declined assent to a bill due to errors, thus, the need for meticulous scrutiny before final submission.
While the Authentication Act requires all passed bills to be forwarded to the Clerk of the National Assembly for authentication, Soli argued that there is currently no mandatory provision requiring the clerks of both the Senate and House of Representatives to verify the final version before it is sent to the president, leaving chances for such slips.
“Adopting stricter verification measures would reinforce transparency, accountability, and the rule of law, ensuring that every bill accurately reflects the collective decision of both chambers”, he said.
He added that the National Assembly would strengthen public trust in the legislative process and prevent unnecessary delays in governance caused by errors requiring corrections or rejections by such reviews.