Institution of Ombudsman urges unremitting support of executives, state councils

Harrar, August 24, 2007 (WIC) - The FDRE Institution of Ombudsman urged members of state councils, executive bodies at different levels and the community at large to provide unremitting support for its endeavor to ensure good governance.

While briefing the activities and responsibilities of the Institution to members of Harrari State Council here today, Children and Women Ombudsman with the rank of Minister, Adanech Dilnesahu, said the institution needs the support of members of state councils to efficiently discharge its responsibilities.

The institution is working with an objective of ensuring quality, efficient and transparent good governance through making sure that the executive body is respecting the legal rights and interests of the public.

According to her, the institution has the authority to control whether administrative directives issued by executive bodies and their decisions and procedures are not against the constitutional rights of the public and to receive, investigate and seek solutions for complaints on maladministration.

She mentioned that the institution has received over 12,000 applications of complaints during the last two years and added that some 10,000 of those were already solved while the rest are still pending.

Among the major sorts of complaints submitted to the institution were concerned with construction license, suspension from job, relegation from position and salary, payment of pension allowance, return of houses confiscated without proclamation, expropriation from holdings and payment of compensation, she elaborated.

Harrari State Chief Administrator Murad Abdulhadi on the occasion pledged to make all the necessary support and contribution to the success of objectives of the institution.

The Chief Administrator, members of the Harrari State Council and Harrari National Congress and heads of executive offices attended the consultative forum.

Harari state council meeting concluds

Harar, August 24, 2007 (Harar) - The 1st regular conference of the Harari State council concluded on Thursday after approving over 172 million Birr annual recurrent budget, appointing cabinet’s members and endorsing various bills.

The council endorsed bills providing for the restructuring of the state mass media agency, the redefinition of the state's executive organs and the establishment of the state's ethics and anti-corruption commission.Members of the council recommended for the increment of state's hospitals’ annual budget from the reserve budget saying the ten million Birr allocated would not be adequate for effective health service delivery.

The council has sacked Zeydan Bekri, who was member of the state’s cabinet and head of public mobilization, culture and social affairs bureau on the grounds of inefficient performance. The council appointed Emaj Indris in place of Zeydan.

Following the separation of the former education and capacity building bureau, the council has entitled Regassa Kefyalew to head the capacity building Bureau in addition to his current position as the state deputy head.

The council unanimously approved the appointment of Nebil Mohamed as the head of the State Education bureau.

---END---

Performance of Harari State during completed budget year said encouraging

Harar, August 22, 2007 (Harar) - Chief of the Harari State, Murad Abdulahi said the performance of the state during the completed budget year is highly encouraging.

Presenting an annual performance report to the State Council in Harar town on Tuesday, Murad said most of the development plans both in regular and capital budget were successfully implemented.

The participation of the public in development plans is one of the reasons for this success, he said.

A total of 80 outstanding and new projects aimed at addressing major socio-economic problems were executed during the year, with nearly 59 million birr allocated budget.

Some 71 percent of the activities planned under the capital budget were executed.

The state collected over 28.6 million Birr in revenues from various sources. The amount of revenue collected during the reported period exceeds the set target by 3.6 million birr.

In the past year, the state also issued investment licenses to 80 investors with an aggregate capital of nearly 382 million Birr.

The Dire-Jabe safe water project, which was designed to address the shortage of safe water in the state, is progressing well, he said.

The state helped more than 2200 youths to start micro and small-scale businesses. The states provided various equipment worth two million Birr to youths in order to make their activities profitable.

Over 11 million Birr obtained from more than 26,400 local and foreign tourists visited attractions during the reported period.

In its three-day conference, the council will discuss plans for the current budget year. It would also debate and endorse various bills and regulations.

Furthermore, the council will discuss legislation proposing the re-establishment of state executive offices, and the establishment of the state ethics and anti-corruption commission, he said.

The council will hear the annual report of the state's auditor general, the Supreme Court and committees of the council.

---END---

Harari state council to begin 1st conference on Wednesday

Harar, August 21, 2007 (Harar) - The 3rd Harari State Council 1st conference would be begun as of the coming Wednesday, Council’s Secretary said.

The council in its three day conference would discuss on the report of the state executive body and plan of the current budget year.

It would also discuss and endorse various bills and regulations, the secretary told ENA on Tuesday.

Furthermore, the council discus on bills providing for reestablishment of the state executive offices, and for the establishment of the state ethics and anti-corruption commission, he said.

The council would hear the annual report of the state chief audit office, Supreme Court and committee of the council.

After discussing on the plan of the 2000 E.C, the state is expected to approve the annual budget.

---END---