Somali Senator Urges Compliance with the Upper House Rules on Ratifying Bills

Abdihakim Moallim: “We must keep in mind that article 44 stipulates that any bill must go through three readings before ratification.”

Mogadishu (PP News Desk) — Senator Abdihakim Moallim today urged the Upper House Senators to abide by the rules of the House when ratifying bills. “We must keep in mind that article 44 stipulates that any bill must go through three readings before ratification. We ask for Allah to forgive us for passing laws without following those rules this year. Several justifications  such as debt forgiveness have been provided for rushing the ratification of bills. The Upper House will go into recess on 20 March. We have three days to read the bills so there is no need to ratify them without reading them three times” said Senator Abdihakim Moallim.

The Senator’s call for adherence to Upper House rules comes in the wake of a new bill submitted to the Upper House and the Lower House to extend the terms of office for the presidency and the bicameral legislature. “We have been given the privilege to represent our people. That is why we are different from other citizens. We must uphold the rules” the Senator added.

Last week, Mohamed Hassan Haad, an influential traditional leader in Mogadishu, warned against any amendments in the presidential and legislature terms of office. “If President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud ever tries to change his term of office to stay in power longer, Badbaado Qaran is still active. He is now a Villa Somalia occupant because of opposition against the attempted term extension by the former government” said Haad.

© Puntland Post, 2023