The Government is planning to introduce what it terms “structural changes” to the appointment processes and other operational aspects of the Constitutional Council and the Independent Commissions established under the Constitution, The Sunday Times learns.
This initiative stems from what the Government sees as practical challenges in executing the functions of these constitutional bodies effectively.
According to The Sunday Times, the Government’s stance is that most appointments to the Constitutional Council and Independent Commissions were made during the tenure of the previous administration. Therefore, it believes the current government, under a new Prime Minister, should rightfully be entitled to make fresh appointments aligned with its own mandate.
However, it is understood that the proposed changes will most likely be implemented only upon the expiry of the current terms of the Constitutional Council and the respective Independent Commissions.
In particular, a model is under consideration in which members of the Constitutional Council could be appointed following a change in the Prime Minister or the Cabinet.
It is further learnt that constitutional amendments will be introduced as necessary to facilitate these reforms.
The move comes in the wake of several challenges the Government has encountered, especially in relation to appointments handled by the Police Commission, the Public Service Commission, and the Constitutional Council.
Accordingly, both structural reforms and the procedures for making appointments to these commissions and the Constitutional Council are expected to be reviewed comprehensively.
The Government has also noted that the current framework of Independent Commissions, which was established in accordance with traditional laws, has led to diminished efficiency in their operations.
“It is not possible to function efficiently by meeting once a week or occasionally to carry on with the work,” a senior government official stated.
“The government aims for efficiency, but it has become increasingly difficult to operate effectively with some of the existing commissions,” the official added, noting delays in obtaining timely responses from several of the Independent Commissions.
The Constitutional Council and Independent Commissions were originally introduced through constitutional amendments in response to sustained public demand for greater checks and balances on the powers of the Executive Presidency.
