The House of Representatives has dissolved all of its Ad Hoc Committees with immediate effect, commanding affected members to immediately halt all operations conducted under those panels.
The directive follows the expiration of deadlines granted to the temporary panels to complete their assignments and present their findings, adhering to the House Rules and traditional procedure. The mandate went into force on Friday, August 28, 2026.
Issued on behalf of Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, the mandate was distributed in an official release signed by the Clerk of the House of Representatives, Sidi Ibrahim, and addressed to all chairmen and panel members.
The document noted that the decision follows prior notifications pushing the Ad Hoc Committees to finish their tasks and turn in their reports according to established House rules.
Only two Ad Hoc Committees formally requested and received deadline extensions pursuant to Order 18, Rule 5 of the House Standing Orders, but their additional two-week grace period has already expired.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Honourable Members are reminded that Ad Hoc Committees are temporary Committees of the House established for specific and time-bound mandates. They are not intended to subsist indefinitely beyond the purpose and period for which they were constituted,” the Clerk stated.
The statement pointed to Order 18, Rule 11, Paragraph 5 of the Standing Orders, which covers “Limitations as to time of Reports” and mandates committees to submit their work within the set window.
“Having exceeded the time allotted, the continued existence of the Ad Hoc Committees is no longer tenable,” the release noted.
Starting Friday, August 28, 2026, all Ad Hoc Committees were officially disbanded, meaning any operations carried out under those committee names “shall cease forthwith.”
Committee leaders must now transfer all pending reports, active documentation, files, and relevant materials straight to the Office of the Clerk for proper retention.
“Honourable Members are kindly requested to take note and ensure strict compliance, please,” the statement added.
This move effectively shuts down all temporary panels that outlasted their approved lifespans, reinforcing the standard that Ad Hoc Committees must operate strictly within their assigned schedules and scopes.
