Arusha — East African Community (EAC) Secretariat staff have been advised to cut out unnecessary travel.

In the run-up to the 2015/16 budget being passed last week, a report of the General Purpose Committee (GPC), presented by the Chair Dr. Odette Nyiramilimo suggested the need to further curtail excess travel and enhance implementation of the decisions and directives of the Council of Ministers.

Consequently the Committee called for more Video Conferencing and that all departments within the EAC should adjust their budgets to reflect the same.

In its report the Committee also expressed concerns that the social sectors at the EAC have been chronically underfunded over time. Committee members called for the re-allocation to the extent possible in order to restore some activities of the sector to allow for their effective implementation. The GPC also wants an overall strengthening of EAC Sensitisation policy and the requisite prioritization in funding.

“While the Committee has previously recommended strengthening of the Corporate Communications Department to be able to spearhead the process, the Committee is of the view that efforts have to be enhanced and funding increased to facilitate Organs and Institutions to optimally participate both jointly and as entities, in the sensitization of East Africans,” a section of the report reads.

Dr Nyiramilimo also calls for improvement of the conditions of service and emoluments of the EAC Staff to make the Institution more competitive and to retain the best caliber of staff. The Committee raises concern over the impending high number of staff of the Secretariat who are expected to retire or to compete the tenure of service in 2017. It advises the Council of Ministers to develop an exit and hiring plan that shall offset risks of losing several staff, develop institutional succession plans and develop EAC staff development and retention strategy. The Committee in its entirety, makes a number of observations and recommendations within the respective Organs and Institutions of the EAC.

Source: All Africa

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