MOGADISHU (Halbeeg News) – The members of the Lower House of the Somali parliament have unanimously endorsed 340 million 2019 budget on Sunday following two days of debate.
In a session attended by 174 lawmakers, which was chaired by the House Speaker, Mohamed Abdirahman, the members have approved the proposed budget.
The figure which was approved by the cabinet in October is about 24 per cent rise from last year’s $275 million budget.
Meanwhile, the House has also approved a bill on Somali forces pension which seeks to create a conducive environment for the country’s retired servicemen and women.
The bill which was drafted by the Ministry of Defense was unanimously endorsed in September 2017 by the cabinet ministers.
Somali forces with limited military hardware have been fighting Al-Shabab fighters for last one decade.
The bill which will be signed into law by the president allows the veterans of the country’s armed forces to get pension and care after the service.
Many military officers upon retirement feel abandoned as they live in abject poverty due to lack of clear legislation defining their retirement benefits.
Also adversely affected are families of gallant officers who are left behind after their breadwinners die in the line of duty.
A quite number of veteran soldiers of Somali national army who participated in the war of 1977 between Somalia and Ethiopia are living in the mouth to hand live in Mogadishu.
The current war veterans who are estimated to be more than 310 officers are residing in Martini Hospital in Mogadishu.
The members of the federal parliament of Somalia have also approved the by-laws of the parliament.
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