Saturday February 18, 2023
Mogadishu (HOL) - On Saturday, Mr. Abdullahi Omar Abshir, the Second Deputy Speaker of Somalia's Lower House of Parliament, presided over a session in which several bills were read, and the draft law on immigration was approved. Lawmakers also voted to donate part of their salaries to earthquake victims in Turkey.
A total of 150 MPs - or just over half of the Lower House - were present for the session, during which several items were on the agenda, including the third reading and voting for the bill on the Financial System of Underground Resources, the Somali Immigration and Citizenship Agency Bill, the first reading of the Investor and Investment Bill, and the distribution of bills, including those for data collection and environmental management.
Abshir proposed that parliamentarians donate 20% of their salaries to the earthquake victims in Turkey, and the House unanimously approved the proposal.
Abshir said, "The executive branch of government, businessmen, and other government institutions have already participated in the campaign, and now it is our turn."
According to official figures, more than 39,000 people have been killed by the 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes that struck Kahramanmaras and ten other provinces in southern Turkey.
On Thursday, Somalia's Prime Minister
appointed an 11-member national committee to coordinate support for the victims of the Turkish earthquake.
The House also approved the draft law on the Somali Immigration and Citizenship Agency, with 148 members voting yes, two voting against it, and two abstentions.
However, the passage of this law was described by some MPs as controversial because lawmakers said that the Speaker's office did not include it in the legislative agenda.
Abdul Qadir Ilmi Ali (Abdul), the Director-General of the immigration agency, thanked the National Assembly for approving the bill. He stated that it was fundamental to improving Somalia's passport and enhancing its recognition and critical to improving immigration controls, borders, and the protection of workers' rights.