Senate approves interim committees to spearhead formation of Senate structures
The Senate has today approved the formation of six interim committees responsible for setting up critical structures of the senate.
The committees will provide both technical and advisory services to the Senate as the country’s first Upper House establishes itself in line with the constitution.
In its sixth session since its establishment, the Senate endorsed the formation of the budget committee which will be responsible for drafting the Senate 2017 budget. The session which had 37 members present today, Speaker Abdi Hashi Abdullahi and his first deputy Abshir Ahmed Bukhari also stamped the establishment of the Senate security committee. The committee will be tasked with advising the Senate on the formation of a security structures and organs for the senate and individual senators.
Rules and Procedures
Another committee approved for formation by the Senate is the Rules and Procedures committee which will be responsible for drafting the House Standing orders and procedure guiding proceedings, conduct of members and general processes in the Senate.
The Senate also agreed to establish the human resources committee which will advise the Senate on staffing. At the moment, the Senate does not have staff of its own apart from a few seconded by the Federal Government. The other committees are the strategic planning committee responsible for developing strategic blueprints for the senate and committee in charge of creating the Senate corporate identity tools such as the Senate Logo.
New organs
Senate first deputy speaker Abshir Ahmed Bukhari told Goobjoog News the committees were critical in establishing the bare bones of the Senate which is the first in Somalia’s history. “These committees form the very core in building the structures and organs of the Senate. As you know this is the first senate in our country’s history, we are starting from a clean slate but we are confident these committees will take up the challenge and hit the ground running,” said Bukhari.
Bukhari added the committees will need to study and draw experiences from other Senates in the world on the best possible practices taking into consideration the uniqueness of each scenario. “We hope to learn from others how best they have done and together with the context at which we are operating we can come up with workable and practical approaches,” the first deputy speaker and senator for Galmudug state said.
The Senate on its 6th seating today elected Senators Abdikafi Maalim Hassan (South West) and Fartun Farah Karama (HirShabelle) coordinators for the committees besides the election of the six committees.