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FNC defers discussions for ministers’ presence
Members of the Federal National Council (FNC) refused to discuss a number of issues because of the absence of the concerned ministers.
At Tuesday’s meeting, chaired by Speaker Mohammed Ahmed Al Murr, Minister of State for Finance Obaid Humaid Al Tayer was the lone minister present to answer members’ questions. Both Minister of Education Humaid Mohammed Obaid Al Qattami and Minister of State and Secretary-General and Marriage Fund Board chairperson Dr Maitha Salem Al Shamsi failed to turn up at the meeting.
Though both the ministers had sent their written answers to the council, the members refused to discuss them and insisted the issues would only be discussed in their presence and asked the Chair to ensure the two ministers were present at the next session.
“The Cabinet in 2010 has issued a decree to set up a programme to help improve the education system to enable local graduates to take up senior federal government jobs. For that, a commission has also been set up. What are the procedures undertaken to implement the programme, and what are the achievements?” member Misbah Ba’ajeed Al Ketbi asked.
Another member Ali Issa Al Nuaimi said he was not happy with the performance and functioning of the Marriage Fund set up with a massive budget to support young Emiratis raise families and reduce the imbalance in the demographic structure of the country.
In his written question to Dr Maitha Al Shamsi, he said the ministry and the minister responsible had to explain the efforts and initiatives by the fund to achieve these goals.
“I’m not willing to hear the minister’s written answer. Nor willing to continue and participate in the debate without her presence here. We will discuss the issue when the minister herself is on the floor to answer our questions,” said the member.
Member Salem Mohammed bin Huwaidan also raised an issue pertaining to the Marriage Fund. His question was about the nullifying of an Article in Federal Decree No.12 of 2006 governing the appointments of Marriage Fund Committees in each emirate. He asked the minister what the new procedures were for forming committees that examined the eligible beneficiaries for the fund in each emirate, after the removal of the article.
“I don’t understand why the article was removed in spite of the fact that it was very important in supporting the functioning of the Marriage Fund,” he said.
Following the questions, the written answers from ministers and members’ arguments, the Minister of State for Finance came under a flood of questions about the closing accounts of the 2011 budget and allocations of funds to various federal government organisations and departments. After a lengthy debate and minor amendments, the council approved the closing accounts of the budget.
Member Ali Jassim asked the minister about the federal revenues raised from taxes, fines, service charges and collection of revenues from different departments.
nissar@khaleejtimes.com
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