The 5th Meeting of the 4th Session of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) opened in Arusha, Tanzania, today, with the adjournment by a week of the debate on the East African Community Service Commission Bill, 2010. The Assembly also witnessed the swearing in of the EAC Secretary General, Amb.Dr. Richard Sezibera as an ex-officio Member.
The adjournment follows the motion brought to the floor of the House by Kenya’s Assistant Minister of the East African Community, Hon Peter Munya, to allow for more consultations by the EAC Council of Ministers.
Earlier on, the Deputy Minister of the East African Co-operation in the United Republic of Tanzania, Hon Dr. Abdulla Saadala, had submitted to the Assembly, recommendations emanating from the Council of Ministers, which wanted the Bill discussed upon completion of the Institutional review of the EAC.
In his Ministerial Statement, Dr. Saadala urged the Assembly to hold the passing of the Bill until such time of completion of the review process so as to make the Bill timely. He however affirmed the EAC Council of Ministers’ unequivocal support for the Bill.
EALA Members however rose up in support of the Bill saying it was progressive and would help move the Community in the right direction.
Hon Gervais Akhaabi, MP, noted that reforms and reviews were a continuous process in the quest for realizing the objectives of the Community, and that if passed and later assented to, law, service delivery at the Community would be enhanced.
The Bill in its original form was sponsored as a Private Members Bill by Hon. Dr. Lwanyatika Masha, MP. In his submission today, Hon Dr. Masha noted that the Bill as is, complemented the efforts of the very Institutional Review of the Community.
Hon Dora Byamukama told an attentive House, they were duty bound to make law and that it was still within the mandate of the Assembly to amend laws when necessitated. “I urge the House to pass the important Bill”, the Member said.
The object of the Bill is to establish an East African Community Service Commission for the organs and institutions of the Community. The Community shall be responsible for making appointments of all staff of the organs and institutions of the Community, and on terms and conditions of service; except where it is otherwise specifically provided for in the Treaty or in an Act of the Community. If it becomes law, except where it is otherwise provided for in the Treaty or an Act of the Community, the Commission shall make recommendations to the Council on appointments of persons to hold office in the service of the Community, its organs and institutions. The Commission can also recommend promotions, transfers and confirmation of appointments and maintain disciplinary control over persons in the service of the Community.
The EAC Service Commission Bill 2010, is likely to be re-introduced in the House next week.
The new Secretary General of the EAC, Dr. Richard Sezibera, took the Administration of Oath as soon as the House was called to Order. His swearing in as an ex-officio Member of the House follows the exit of the former Secretary General, Amb. Juma Mwapachu, whose tenure of service came to an end in April 2011. The Secretary General is one of seven ex-officio members of the regional assembly.
The 5th Meeting of the 4th Session is meeting in Arusha over a two week period. Other business during the period include the EAC Elections Bill, 2nd & 3rd Reading, EAC Appropriation Bill 2011, 2nd & 3rd Reading, the EAC Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2011, 2nd & 3rd Reading and the Inter-University Council of East Africa (Amendment) Bill, 2nd & 3rd Reading. On Thursday, May 19, 2011, EALA shall listen to the EAC Budget Speech for the Financial Year 2011/2012 that is expected to be delivered by the Chairperson of the EAC Council of Ministers and the Minister for East African Community Affairs, Republic of Burundi Hon Hafsa Mossi.
NOTE TO THE EDITORS
The East African Legislative Assembly is the legislative organ of the East African Community. Its Membership consists of a total of 52, of whom 45 are elected Members (9 from each Partner State) and seven ex-officio members (the Ministers responsible for EAC Affairs from the Partner States, the Secretary General of the Community and the Counsel to the Community).
The East African Legislative Assembly has legislative functions as well as oversight of all East African Community matters. The enactment of legislation of the Community is effected by means of Bills passed by the Assembly and assented to by the Heads of State, and every Bill that has been duly passed and assented to become an Act of the Community and takes precedent over similar legislations in the Partner States.
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For more Information, contact: Bobi Odiko, Senior Public Relations Officer; East African Legislative Assembly; Tel: +255-27-2508240 Cell: +255 787 870945, +254-733-718036; Email: bodiko@eachq.org Web: https://www.eala.org Arusha, Tanzania
