Bill Transfers Compensation Payment Duties to Regions

Jun 29 , 2024


[ssba-buttons]

Parliament ratified an amendment to the compensation proclamation last week that transfers evaluations and payment responsibilities during resettlement for federal infrastructure projects to regional administrations. A month ago, State Minister for Finance Eyob Tekalign(PhD) heralded the amendment as a precondition for further compensation payments. The bill, which received four objections and six abstentions from the House, aims to reduce the amount of money asked for right-of-way compensation by ensuring that those who make the estimates end up paying. It also strips the regional courts of the right to issue injunctions on the bank accounts of federal institutions, with only the president of the Federal First Instance Court having been granted the power. Right-of-way disputes have resulted in court cases worth billions of birr with institutions like the Ethiopian Roads Administration and Ethiopian Electric Power and years-long project delays. Wondwesen Admase (MP-PP) from Amhara Regional State enquired how ongoing right-of-way disputes would be handled. He referred to the lack of transitory provisions to regulate the affairs of those already resettled and wondered if the regional states had been sufficiently consulted during the amendment's drafting. Shewit Shanka, Chairwoman of the Standing Committee for Urban, Infrastructure & Transport Affairs, indicated that a special support budget will be attached to each federal infrastructure project in the future.


Radar

Bank of Abyssinia Signs Partnership with Droga Cooperative

Bank of Abyssinia has entered into a partnership agreement with Droga Health & Financial Savings and Credit Cooperative to provide financial support and services for its members. The agreement was signed yesterday at the Bank's headquarters. The deal aims to strengthen collaboration between the two institutions, enabling cooperative members to access tailored banking services. It was signed by Wosenyeleh Abera, Deputy CEO for Customer Relations and Marketing at the bank, and Zelalem Yilma...


Radar

Wegagen Introduces Real Time SWIFT Tracking

Wegagen Bank has launched a new mobile app feature enabling customers to track international SWIFT payments in real time. The bank is the first in Ethiopia to introduce an online SWIFT payment tracking system. By integrating SWIFT Global Payment Innovation, customers, particularly those involved in import-export trade, can monitor cross-border transactions using a Unique End-to-End Transaction Reference (UETR) directly from their smartphones. To use the service, customers select the SWIFT...


Radar

National ID, Zambia Partners to Expands Program Reach

The National ID Program has signed an agreement with Zambia's counterpart to provide consulting services for the development of software that will issue digital IDs. It is the first time the institution has extended its expertise beyond national borders, a sign of growing recognition for its rapid progress. Program officials described the partnership as a milestone in their effort to position themselves as a regional player in digital transformation. The collaboration is expected to center...