Parliament, on Tuesday, went into a two-month recess leaving behind some unfinished business.Capping this session was the Political Leaders Benefits Bill which was passed on Monday. But unfinished bills total 42.The Director General of Communications and Outreach at Parliament, Augustine Habimana, told The New Times on Tuesday that 28 bills are currently under scrutiny by respective committees while 14 others are ready for the floor.Among the bills at the committee level is the Information Communications Technology Bill which has lingered in parliament for the last eight months.The committee on social affairs is also considering a draft of the Pensions Act that seeks to raise the retirement age from 55 to 60 years.Addressing a news briefing at the Parliamentary Buildings in Kimihurura on Tuesday, Speaker Rose Mukantabana said the number of bills coming to parliament is on a high end attributing the development to the ongoing harmonisation of laws across the East African Community (EAC) bloc, among other things.Also at the briefing was Senate president Dr Jean Damascene Ntawukuriryayo.“Parliament is going on recess after passing 19 bills,” Mukantabana said, pointing out the need to harmonise and standardise several laws to reflect the changing development trends.“This country is building institutions. Institutions require laws to streamline their responsibilities and operations,” noted the Speaker.Ntawukuriryayo said that of the passed bills, 16 had been published in the Official Gazette.Both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate shall resume business in September.
