Section 21
Contents of Questions
of State Legislative Assembly Standing Orders
(1)
Every question shall conform to the following rules;-
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(a)
a question shall not include the names of persons or statements not strictly necessary to render the question intelligible;
(b)
a question shall not contain statements which the Member who asks the question is not prepared to substantiate;
(c)
a question shall not contain arguments, inferences, opinions, imputations, epithets or tendentious, ironical or offensive expressions;
(d)
a question shall not refer to debates or answers to questions in the current session;
(e)
a question shall not refer to proceedings in a Committee of the Assembly which have not been reported to the assembly;
(f)
a question shall not seek information about any matter which is of its nature secret;
(g)
a question shall not reflect on the decision of a court of law and no question shall be asked on any matter which is subjudice;
(h)
a question shall not be asked for the purpose of obtaining an expression of opinion, the solution of an abstract legal question or the answer to a hypothetical proposition;
(i)
a question shall not be asked as to whether statements in the Press or of private individuals or bodies of persons are accurate;
(j)
a question shall not be asked as to the character or conduct of any person except in his official or public capacity;
(k)
a question shall not be asked reflecting on the character or conduct of any person whose conduct can only be challenged on a substantive motion;
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(l)
a question shall not be asked making or implying a charge or a personal character;
(m)
a question shall not be asked seeking for information set forth in accessible documents or ordinary works of reference;
(n)
a question fully answered shall not be asked again during the same session.
(o)
a Member may not ask more than three (3) questions for oral reply in any one meeting of the House,
(i)
a question shall not exceed forty (40) words without taking into account the name and constituency of the Member ask and the
Minister responsible; and
(ii)
a question shall not contain more than two (2) different questions or a combination of more than two questions.
(2)
If the Speaker or in his absence the Deputy Speaker or in his absence such other person as the Speaker may designate, is of the opinion that any question of which a Member has given notice to the Clerk or which a Member has sought leave to ask without notice, is an abuse of the right of questioning or infringes any of the provisions of this or any other Standing Order, he may direct:-
(a)
that it be printed or asked with such alterations as he may direct; or
(b)
that the Member concerned be informed that the question is inadmissible for reasons stated.
(3)
Notwithstanding anything hereinbefore contained the Minister or other Member to whom the question is addressed may refuse to answer any such question put to him on the ground of public policy and such refusal shall not be debated or questioned.
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(4)
Secretary is empowered to edit questions submitted.