House decides on Seats of Addis, Dire Dawa Councils

The House of peoples’ Representatives has adopted the decision proposal submitted to decide the number of seats of the councils of Addis Ababa city established at different levels and Dire Dawa city administration councils.

The House of Peoples’ Representatives in its 8th regular session held on Oct 4, 2007 adopted the decision proposal with a majority vote cast of 280 for, 80 against and 17 abstentions as a resolution number 4/ 2007 after it had deliberated on the proposal presented by chief whip of government hon. Ato Shiferaw Jarso.

Hon. Ato Shiferaw said that adoption of the decision proposal has become necessary to enable the people of Addis Ababa to be represented in a better way and enables to participate directly on socio-economic and political issues.

Besides, the decision proposal is adopted by the House due to lack of vested power to the Addis Ababa caretaker administration that would enable to decide the number of seats of the councils of Addis Ababa established at different levels, he explained.

Accordingly, the House of Peoples’ Representatives decided that the number of seats for Addis Ababa city council to be 300 and for Diredawa Town administrative council to be 189.

Meanwhile questions in connection with the rationals behind the increased number of representatives in each kebeles of Addis Ababa and Diredawa and with others related issues were raised by the oppositions for which replies were given by the chief whip.

Answering the questions raised in connection with the increased number of representatives in kebeles of Addis Ababa, honorable Sheferaw said it enables the people to participate directly on all matters of governance democracy and political concerns.

Meanwhile, the House has endorsed with majority vote cast the minutes of the 3rd year tenure, 4th and 5th regular session and heard statement of congratulation from South Africa National Assembly on the new Ethiopian Millennium celebration.