Appearing at the session of the House of People’s Representatives yesterday, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) gave responses and clarifications to the queries and concerns raised by Members of the Parliament (MPs).
Among the key national issues and concerns raised by the Parliamentarians were peace and security, inflation and the cost of living, job creation, service delivery, agriculture, wheat production, education, health, road construction, corridor development, the renovation and construction of tourist destinations, the overall economic activities of the country, efforts undertaken to enhance the social, economic and political well-being of the people and the current status of the implementation of the Pretoria Agreement that was signed between the federal government and TPLF two years ago were some.
The parliamentarians also appreciated the major achievements gained in various sectors within a short period. Some of the success stories mentioned by the MPs included corridor development, wheat production, the renovation and expansion of new tourism destinations, macroeconomic reform programs and the like.
The peaceful and diplomatic approach undertaken by the Ethiopian government to secure seaport access to accommodate the growing economic needs of the country was also praised by parliamentarians; who recognized it as a significant achievement.
Moreover, the commitment and perseverance shown by the government in initiating and successfully accomplishing major projects as well as embarking on the new ones was the other success story witnessed in the past few months and highlighted by Members of the Parliament as a transformative milestone in the country’s project history.
In response to queries regarding the economy, Prime Minister Abiy said that major economic indicators have shown significant progress over the past eight months. If this momentum is sustained in the remaining months of the fiscal year, Ethiopia is projected to achieve economic growth exceeding 8.4 percent for the current fiscal year.
Regarding job creation, PM Abiy said that one of the areas that the government has worked on focusing on over the past eight months is creating job opportunities. Accordingly, more than three million citizens have benefited from new employment opportunities, with 2.8 million securing jobs within the country, and over 300 thousand citizens are benefiting from overseas job opportunities. Not less than 45 thousand Ethiopians are also benefitting from remote jobs, working for foreign companies while residing in their homeland.
Equally important, following the corridor development projects and various initiatives that are undertaken in both rural and urban areas, massive job opportunities are created for several young people. However, there is a need to further strengthen and sustain it, he added.
The other area that the Premier briefed Members of the Parliament was service delivery. Emphasizing the critical importance of improving government services at the kebele level, the smallest administrative unit in Ethiopia, Abiy said that the government went to the kebele level and built a system that enables the provision of well-organized government services.
The PM said that the government to improve service delivery needs to implement two major activities. The first one is initiating the transformational activities that have already started at the kebele level, building the capacity of each kebele in a way providing effective and efficient services. This will enable all kebeles to quantify their resources and provide services. This should be sustained in a strengthened manner.
The second platform is called Mesob Service, which will be implemented as a pilot program by the Civil Service and the Ministry of Planning and Development at the system level. The platform will enable us to offer all services through a single window, allowing people to obtain multiple services from a single location.
According to him, Mesob—one window service center—is scheduled to commence within a month and a half. This initiative aims to streamline access to various government services, thereby alleviating the frustrations often associated with bureaucratic processes, he reiterated.
The Mesob service is designed to be a comprehensive solution for citizens. The initiative is part of the Ethiopian government’s broader strategy to improve the overall service sector and reduce grievances among the populace. By creating a single-window service, Mesob will enable citizens to handle essential tasks—such as applying for business licenses, paying taxes, and accessing other governmental services—without the need to navigate through multiple institutions.
The issue of inflation and the cost of living was the other topics raised by parliamentarians and the Premier gave detailed responses. According to him, the government is taking careful measures to ensure that the price hike does not impact negatively low-income citizens by providing substantial subsidies.
For instance, the government subsidized 3,700 birr on one quintal of fertilizer and 72 billion birr for fuel. This means the government is spending 28 birr per liter. Additionally, efforts are being made to increase the revenue of citizens with no incomes by raising their salaries. This initiative will be further strengthened and continue, he remarked. He also reflected that whenever there is economic growth, inflation is an unavoidable matter.
Prime Minister Abiy also highlighted the government’s ongoing efforts to advance the education sector. He said that the government is placing significant attention on the education sector and is implementing various initiatives to expand access to education and ensure educational quality. Notably, extensive construction projects are underway to improve pre-school learning, in addition to prioritizing the maintenance of the existing schools.
The Prime Minister reiterated his strong belief in the importance of education and assured that the government will continue to work in collaboration with the public. He also confirmed that efforts in the health sector will be further strengthened; he said mentioning the huge operations; including CDC.
Abiy also stated the government’s efforts in the area of peace and security, emphasizing the importance of the Pretoria Agreement signed between the government and TPLF. He stated that the agreement has played a crucial role in restoring peace and stability, rebuilding infrastructure, and enabling the provision of essential services to the people of Tigray. According to him, the agreement was a historic step that demonstrated Ethiopia’s strong commitment to peace and provided a valuable lesson for many.
However, he acknowledged that several issues remain inadequately addressed, particularly concerning the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) efforts, which is a component of peace processes and primarily affects the people of Tigray.
The Prime Minister emphasized the need for youth to transition from militant activities to developmental roles, adding that billions of dollars that should have been allocated for development are instead being spent on addressing these challenges. “We are fighting to bring sustainable peace,” he reaffirmed.
He also mentioned the commitment of the Tigray Interim Administration led by President Getachew Redda, noting that they have made significant strides in halting potential conflicts in the State over the past two years. Regarding displaced people, Abiy said that while commendable progress has been made in areas such as Raya and Tselemt, where displaced individuals have returned to their villages.
However, he noted that similar efforts have not been as successful in other areas. He attributed these challenges to the presence of forces that blur the lines between civil service and politics. Nonetheless, Abiy praised the Tigray Interim Administration for its ongoing efforts to prevent further conflict.
BY MENGISTEAB TESHOME
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 21 MARCH 2025
