The Executive Director of the Africa Centre for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA), Dr. Rashid Draman, has sharply criticised Parliament’s scheduling system following the stalling of a sitting of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament.

His comments come in the wake of disruptions to PAC proceedings following the sudden withdrawal of Majority members from a committee sitting, forcing proceedings to be halted.

Dr. Draman, in an interview on Joy FM's Top Story on Wednesday, described the situation as unacceptable, arguing that it reflects poor coordination within Parliament’s administrative structure.

“If there is a clash between committee sittings and plenary, then it simply means that someone has not done their job,” he stated.

According to him, the recurring overlap between committee work and plenary sessions is a fundamental flaw that undermines the effectiveness of Parliament.

He further criticised what he described as a “convenient excuse” often used to justify absenteeism on the floor of the House — that Members of Parliament are attending committee meetings.

“Anytime concerns are raised about low attendance, the explanation is that committees are sitting. But this should not happen in a properly organised Parliament,” he stressed.

Dr. Draman noted that in many established democracies, parliamentary schedules are carefully structured to ensure that committee sittings and plenary sessions do not overlap, allowing MPs to fully participate in both processes.

He emphasised that while plenary proceedings are broadcast and visible to the public, committee work largely happens out of the public eye, making it even more critical that plenary sessions reflect strong attendance and engagement.

The governance expert warned that continued scheduling conflicts risk eroding public confidence in Parliament and damaging its institutional credibility.

“Situations like this suggest that there is more to it than just the explanations being provided. It points to deeper inefficiencies that must be addressed,” he added.