The extraordinary session of the People's National Assembly in Guinea Bissau will convene today, Wednesday in the capital, Bissau.

The session, which was due to take place this Tuesday, 28 December 2021, was postponed at the request of Prime Minister Nuno Gomes Nabian's office.

The cabinet reportedly underpinned the postponement request with the absence of the Minister of Finance, Joao Alage Mamadu Fadia, who is on an assignment abroad. 

The executive wants Fadia to participate in the wider discussion session for the global and final vote on the General State Budget for the 2022 economic year and the National Development Plan.

After a consultation meeting, Cipriano Cassamá said that a "deep analysis" had been carried out to make a decision on the matter, adding that the deputies had decided to postpone the session, taking into account the interdependence of the four sovereign bodies.

Cassamá explained that the absence of the Finance Minister was justified, and revealed that at the meeting, before the session was called, issues linked to the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Agriculture and Services and the demands of trade union organisations were also addressed.

At the beginning of the postponed session, MPs observed a minute's silence in memory of the late former justice minister and former member of parliament, Iaia Djaló.