(a)
the President, in consultation with the Speaker of the National Assembly, may summon,
on extraordinary occasions, a meeting of the National Assembly; and
(b)
the President may, in consultation with the Speaker of the National Assembly, prorogue
the National Assembly.
(2) There shall be held at least two meetings of the National Assembly in each session.
13 of 2001(3) A session of the National Assembly shall be opened by the President on such date
as the President, in consultation with the Speaker of the National Assembly, shall determine.
13 of 2001(4) A session shall be of such duration as the President, in consultation with the
Speaker of the National Assembly, shall determine.
[Ch0000s60]60. Privileges and immunities
(1) The Speaker, every Deputy Speaker, and every member of the National Assembly shall,
except in cases of treason, be privileged from arrest while going to, returning from or while in the
precincts of the National Assembly and shall not, in respect of any utterances that forms part of the
proceedings in the National Assembly, be amenable to any other action or proceedings in any court,
tribunal or body other than Parliament.
(2) All official reports and publications of Parliament or of its proceedings or of the proceedings
of any committee of the Parliament shall be privileged and utterances made in the Parliament or in any
committee thereof wherever published shall be protected by absolute privilege.
(3) The National Assembly and any committee of the National Assembly shall have the power to
conduct investigations and exercise the power to subpoena the attendance of any person or office
holder whosoever as required in connexion with the prudentexercise of the functions of the National
Assembly and failure to attend without leave or without valid reason or excuse shall be held to be a
contempt of the National Assembly or committee in question.
(4) The National Assembly shall lay down in Standing Orders the procedure to be followed by
the National Assembly or committee concerned in holding any person in contempt of the National
Assembly or committee; and such procedure shall comply with the principles of natural justice so far as
the circumstances allow.
[Ch0000s61]61. Member’s interests
4 of 2001, 13 of 2001(1) A member of Parliament, where he or she has a direct or indirect
material interest in a matter being debated by the National Assembly shall—
(a)
disclose such interest to the National Assembly; and
(b)
not be entitled to vote on that matter without leave of the National Assembly.