Tag: Parliament

PROFICIENCY AND ON THE JOB TRAINING ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS

By Ismail Warsame, WDM Opinion COLUMNIST

Here in Puntland, and to a greater extent, Somalia, on the job training is either non-existent or not a priority in public sector. Imagine members of parliament, who had no prior legal training nor had job experiences of any sort. Imagine a member of legislative assembly who doesn’t understand what his or her job is all about. What kind of legislations do you expect coming out from a house of representatives, who have no idea of what they were supposed to do? Could they differentiate their job descriptions from that of the Executive Branch? Do they know that corruption and tax evasions are among the highest crimes committed against the people and state? What do they understand about the checks and balance of power? How could they handle an abusive Executive Branch? Do they have an idea of inquiry and Question Period in parliament sessions?

Finally, why do we blame them for doing what they were doing if qualifications were not among the options for public service prior to their selection/election? What is the job of the speaker and his assistants with regards to raising legislative knowledge of members and their ethical standards?

This problem applies to other public departments as well, including the judiciary. This is a critical issue, and without addressing it, there is little hope for good governance in Somalia. Let us not kid ourselves.

https://amazon.com/author/ismailwarsame

CHECKS AND BALANCE OF POWER IN PUNTLAND

The chronic Madax-Ka-Nool (lone head of the state show) political situation in Puntland State doesn’t expect challenges from the State’s dysfunctional House of Representatives. It was a rare move on the part of MPs to issue some independent resolutions the other day. Is it self-perservation, having witnessed some members of their colleagues easily impeached and expelled from their ranks or a meaningful attempt to re-assert their constitutional powers?

Many observers believe that the new attempt to grab power by Puntland Parliament is limited to enhancing their positions as unassailable branch of the government rather than insuring checks and balance of power for the common good of the people of Puntland and for the purpose of re-introducing good governance to Puntland State.

It looks that Puntland MPs are seeking more say in selecting senators this time around, besides jockeying for acquiring bigger junks of the corruption money sharing in this election cycle. A few others say it is first baby steps to challenge the traditionally exclusive powers of the State President and his governance style of one-man show in running Puntland government, whereby the State President doesn’t seem to understand that he is also the Head of Government to be accessible to all heads of departments (ministries) and members of the House of Representatives. Puntland President isn’t only the Head of State. He has to run the government too on daily basis, and that his executive powers fall within the Cabinet collectively as an executive prime minister. He wasn’t elected by the people. This is a parliament system that came through selection process, and therefore, with shared responsibilities and responsible to parliament.

On the top of the above observations, there is fear among some members of the House from the consequences of upcoming Puntland election in two years, and these, mostly from Sool and Ayn Regions, predict that the planned 1P1V in Puntland could erode their political fortunes. Upcoming Federal elections may also have some impact on the cohesion of President Deni’s own political team in the Cabinet, House of Representatives and power brokers at large.

Whatever the case might be, Puntland House of representatives has a long history of being a toothless institution. Their past performances and corrupt practices for vote selling don’t give any hope or confidence to the residents of Puntland State.

https://amazon.com/author/ismailwarsame