Meeting with FMS speakers unconstitutional, Senate tells Jawari

The Senate has protested a planned meeting between the Lower House speaker Mohamed Jawaari and speakers of the Federal Member States assembly terming as an affront to the principles of federalism.

Senate Speaker Abdi Hashi Abdullahi in a letter addressed to FMS presidents and copied to President Mohamed Farmaajo said the meeting scheduled to take place in Baydhabo is not only unconstitutional but will also impede the working relations between the Senate and the FMS.

“In executing its Constitutional responsibilities of protecting federalism as stipulated in articls 61 (3) and 71 of the Constitution, the Senate makes it clear that the meeting is not in line with the constitution,” said Abdullahi.

The meeting, Senator Abdullahi said serves to weaken and disempower the representation of the FMS in the Federal Parliament and negatively impact the working relations between the Senate and the FMS assemblies.

The Senate leadership, the statement reads, calls on the Presidents of the FMS to take cognizance of the effect the meeting will have on the federal system and execution of functions by the Upper House in representing the interests of the FMS.

Additionally the Senate observed the constitution now distinguished the roles of the two Houses of Parliament reiterating that prior to the coming into being of the Senate the Lower House undertook functions which now belong to the Senate and the distinction must therefore be noted.

The dates of the meeting have not been made public yet.