…Agenda includes tabling of EAC Budget speech for next financial year
East African Legislative Assembly, Arusha, June 14, 2019: The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) resumes its sitting in Arusha, Tanzania, on Monday, June 17th, 2019, for the sixth meeting of its second session.
Topping the agenda of the Assembly to be presided over by Speaker, Rt Hon Ngoga Karoli Martin, is the tabling of the EAC Budget speech for the Financial Year 2019/2020, the anticipated debate and enactment of a key piece of legislation and possible adoption of several reports.
The EAC Budget speech is expected to be delivered on June 19th, 2019, by the Chair of the Council of Ministers. The Assembly is subsequently expected to debate and approve the contents of the Budget speech, which is a key activity of the EAC calendar.
Last year, (June 2018), EALA approved the bloc’s budget estimates for the Financial Year 2018/2019, totaling $99,770,716. The 2018/2019 budget themed: “Enhancing Prosperity and Welfare of EAC Citizens” was a step-down from $110,130,184 presented to the House in the previous Financial Year (2016/17). The priority interventions for FY 2018/2019, focused on enhanced free movement of goods in the region and further liberalization of free movement of labor and services; improved cross-border infrastructure to ease cost of doing business in the region; and enhanced regional agricultural productivity. Other priority interventions included enhancing industrial development through investment in key priority sectors notably leather and textile; skills development, technological advancement and innovation to stimulate economic development. The budget further intended to boost implementation of the roadmap for the attainment of the EAC Monetary Union; strengthened peace, security and good governance and establishment of an institutional framework for the EAC Political (Con)federation.
Other activities of the Assembly at the three-week sitting include debate and enactment of the EAC Supplementary Bill, 2019 and the EAC Appropriation Bill, 2019 to anchor the EAC Budget as well as the debate on Report of the Committee on Accounts on the EAC audited financial statements for the Financial Year ended 30th June, 2017.
Furthermore, over the three week-period, the Assembly will interact with various stakeholders and citizens in a calculated move to collect views to effectively undertake its mandate and enhance its representation mandate.
In addition, all 6 statutory committees of the House will also meet and rigorously review pending reports for debate in the House as well as adopt workplans for the next financial year.
NOTE TO EDITORS ABOUT EALA
The East African Legislative Assembly is the Legislative Organ of the East African Community. Its Membership consists of a total of 62, of whom 54 are elected Members (9 from each Partner State) and eight 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 put into effect 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. EALA has to date passed 87 pieces of legislation.
-ENDS-
For more information, contact
Bobi Odiko,
Senior Public Relations Officer,
East African Legislative Assembly,
P.O. Box 1096, Arusha, Tanzania.
Cell. +255-787-870945
Email: BOdiko@eachq.org.
Web: www.eala.org
