The East African
Legislative Assembly passed a resolution on Monday calling for urgent
need for remittances of the financial obligations by partner states.
The
motion for “a resolution of the assembly urging partner states to
honour their financial obligations to the community” urged the Council
of Ministers to direct partner states to immediately and consistently
remit their financial contributions. The motion was moved by Hon
Abdikadir Aden, chairman of the EALA Committee on General Purpose -
Budget, and the Assembly passed it late Monday.
“Although
EAC Financial Rules and Regulations provide that financial
contributions from each Partner State shall be considered due on the 1st
day of July in each financial year and remitted within the first six
months of the same, Partner States continue to default and some remain
in arrears throughout the financial year,” Mr Aden said.
The
legislator said a sustainable funding mechanism is critical and all
options should be explored to ensure the Community remains stable.
The EastAfrican
at the weekend carried a story titled “EAC cash crisis looms after 2021
budget fallout” that told of salary delays that could push the regional
bloc into a financial crisis.
In a heated debate on
Monday, the Assembly further blamed both the East African Community
secretariat and the Council of Ministers for failing to table their
2020/21 budget before the June deadline.
But EAC Council of Ministers chairman Vincent Biruta and EAC
Secretary General Liberat Mfumukeko, who were in attendance, said that
the issues of outstanding arrears owed to EALA and the tabling of the
budget are on the agenda of the Council of Ministers meeting scheduled
for Wednesday, July 1, 2020.
During Monday’s debate, Dr
Biruta was sworn in as ex officio member of the Assembly in a brief
ceremony conducted by EALA Speaker, Rt Hon Ngoga Karoli Martin.
Last
week, Rwanda’s State Minister in charge of EAC Affairs, Mr Nshuti
Manaseh, was also sworn in as an ex officio member of EALA.
Under
the Treaty for the establishment of the EAC, the Assembly shall swear
in the Ministers responsible for EAC Affairs from each partner state and
the assistant or deputy minister.
The Rule 5(4) of the
Rules of Procedure says in part that: “No Member can sit or participate
in the proceedings of the House until the Oath or Affirmation of
Allegiance to the Treaty is taken”.
The
assistant/deputy minister or state minister shall only seat/attend the
House proceedings provided the substantive minister responsible for EAC
is unable to participate.
The debate on the budget was scheduled to continue on Tuesday
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