East African Business Week

ARUSHA, TANZANIA- East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) wants the East African Community Service Commission Bill, 2010 passed and assented into law to give powers to the EAC secretariat to independently recruit members of staff without interference of the partner states.
The passing of the bill by the EALA members was the main item on the agenda for the first session of the fifth meeting of EALA that started from May 16 up to May 27, in Arusha, Tanzania.
The session was preceded by the swearing in of the new Secretary General of EAC, Dr. Richard Sezibera who took the Oath of Administration as an ex-officio of EALA.
The session was presided over by Mr. Abdirahin Haithar Abdi, the EALA Speaker.
The Deputy Minister of the East African Co-operation in Tanzania, Dr. Abdulla Saadalla, had submitted to the assembly, recommendations made by the Council of Ministers that the Bill should debated and passed upon completion of the Institutional review.
The review seeks to make changes in the organizational structure to make it an independent Commission like the European Union Commission and create an independent EAC Service Commission to handle employment of staff among others.
EALA members supported the passing of the bill saying it was progressive and would help improve the community's employment status.
Mr. Wandera Ogalo (Uganda) said that the bill was gazzetted last year on May 21st yet it has not been passed into law even after one year.
"This is disservice to the people of East Africa, the bill must be passed into law so that it also supports the on-going institutional review of the EAC secretariat," he said.
The bill in its original form was sponsored as a Private Members Bill delivered by Dr. Lwanyatika Masha, (Tanzania).  
The objective of the bill is to establish an East African Community Service Commission for the organs and institutions of the Community.  
The Commission 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.  
The Commission can also recommend promotions, transfers and confirmation of appointments and maintain disciplinary control over persons in the service of the Community.