The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) this Wednesday 26 June 2024 adjourned its seating for 24hrs after the regional ministers failed to show up during a seating in Arusha, Tanzania.
The East African Community Council of ministers which is chaired by South Sudan on Tuesday tabled $112 million as the budget for the East African community for the Financial Year 2024/25, and the regional assembly was expected this Wednesday to debate the supplementary budget and the main budget.
“As you can see there is no minister from the partner state present today and we cannot proceed with the business of the house without the Secretary General or the members from the council of minister therefore I adjourn the house until tomorrow,” said the EALA speaker Joseph Ntakirutimana.
The EALA seating is expected to resume tomorrow to conduct the budget process and pass the 2024/25 budget with few days remaining to the deadline.
EAC Budget Act 2008 states that the Secretary General is by 15th October of each financial year, required to prepare the budget for the Community and to submit the same to the Council of Ministers for consideration.
Section 4 of the EAC Budget Act requires the Chairperson, Council of Ministers to present the EAC Budget to the Assembly by the 30th day of April, while the Assembly should pass the EAC Budget Estimates no later than June 30th each year.