MPs told to be punctual

PARLIAMENT deputy speaker Koni Iguan says parliamentarians are required by law to attend parliament sessions on time.
The Markham MP said in Parliament yesterday that today’s session would be adjourned to tomorrow at the time of the bell and when the speaker announced the suspension.
Iguan made the remarks yesterday after parliament sessions on Tuesday and yesterday started an hour late instead of the scheduled 10am starting time.
He added that it was highlighted in Section 36 of the Constitution that parliament sessions must be on time and members had to be punctual in their attendance.
“On behalf of the Parliament Speaker Job Pomat and me as his deputy, we make this statement on the timings of attending sessions,” he said.
“As of today, the parliament will start going by the standing orders.
“And this is basically for us to show punctuality and attendance when in parliament session.”
Iguan urged all the members of Parliament that they had to respect the standing orders and should therefore, be punctual and attend the sessions on time.
On Monday, Iguan had to suspend the Parliament session at 10am because the chamber was empty when he walked out to his chair.
He also told the MPs present that the Parliament sessions were meant to be the business of the people and they had to know that.