Council of Ministers Passes Decisions on Bills to Be Effective, Refers to Parliament

Addis Ababa, April 11/2024 (ENA) The Council of Ministers, in its 29th regular session today has discussed various issues and passed resolutions, according to the Office of the Prime Minister (PMO).

Initially, the Council deliberated on a draft bill of public service delivery and administration policy.

The Statement issued by PMO stated that this public service delivery and administration policy has a paramount role in implementing and making the necessary follow up on the implementation of laws, policies and strategies as well as in accelerating the nation-state building process. Accordingly, the policy is based on seven pillars of activities on which the necessary action is to be taken. These include urgently developing free and impartial civil service delivery systems, building an inclusive and all embracing civil service, integrating public service structure and administration, ensuring efficient and accessible public service delivery systems.

Moreover, the pillars comprise vital components such as developing a viable certification of competence for public servants and implementing them, developing a digital civil service delivery for acceptable and reliable services and solutions, ensuring and accelerating pragmatism approach for civil service and institution building.

After its deliberation on the draft bill, the council passed a decision unanimously that the policy to become effective with additional inputs.

 The Council of Ministers then discussed a draft policy on small and medium enterprise development. The policy document incorporates the formation and development of micro small and medium enterprise development and it is vital to create an enabling environment for the expansion of enterprises.  This would provide the necessary support for the sector with appropriate consideration to demand and supply, support regular trade and ensure their inclusive development, promoting their positive contributions to the economic development of the country.

Having discussed the agenda, the Council decided the policy document to be effective.

In addition, the Council deliberated on a draft decree on the Structure, duties and responsibilities of the Environmental Protection Authority. The draft decree considered the role of the authority as a regulatory body, its operational stricture, roles, tasks and building its capacity to implement ongoing environmental protection policy, laws and standards and international environmental agreements to which Ethiopia is a signatory and ensure their implementation.

After incorporating additional inputs on the decree, the council unanimously decided the document to   become effective as of its date of publication in the Negarit Gazette. 

Additionally, the Council discussed a draft bill on Ethiopian Standards. The draft bill was submitted to the council with a view to ensuring commodities and services and processes locally produced or imported must fulfill Ethiopian and international standards. And that the standards are to be implemented in the entire country and  calls for the necessary coordination, accountability and transparency between regulatory bodies for the implementation of the bill.  The council discussed the agreement in detail and unanimously decided to refer it to the House of Peoples’ Representative for approval.

  The  Council of Ministers discussed a draft decree on national metrology institute, provided for enhancing the capacity of the institute in the areas of delivering internationally accredited metrology and calibration services on scientific instruments, trade and health service delivery, environmental protection and other instruments used by the public.  The Council referred it for approval to the parliament after deliberations.

The Council further delivered on the draft regulation to establish Ethiopian National Accreditation Office in order to promote national and international trade.  The draft bill would establish a national accreditation system and to ensure healthy utilization of these services by ensuring environmental protection and safety, ensuring equitable and fair trade in the country.

The Council also discussed a draft decree to reestablish Ethiopian Conformity Assessment Enterprise which would ensure the conformity of all export and import commodities through inspection, certification and by applying inspection laboratories in the enterprise. The council decided all the above decrees to be effective by its date of publication in the Negarit Gazette.

Finally, the Council discussed a draft decree on the organizational structure, duties and responsibilities of Refugees and Returnees Affairs Service which would enable the service to conduct its activities in a more efficient manner. The decree provided for the protection, support and care that the country would provide for refugees and returnees based on the international agreements and conventions to which Ethiopia is a signatory.   

 After deliberating on the draft decree, the council has unanimously decided the decree to be implemented right after it is published in the Negarit Newspaper.