Council of Ministers holds urgent session, passes decisions

Addis Ababa, April 8, 2020 (FBC) – In its 18th urgent session held today, the Council of Ministers has passed decisions after deliberating on different issues.

The Council first discussed on the state of emergency draft bill issued today to avert the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) and reduce its impact, according to a statement issued by office of the Prime Minister.

The draft bill was issued in accordance to Article 93 of the Constitution and was needed to respond to the political and socio-economic impact of the pandemic, it said.

Following the declaration of coronavirus a global emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO), about 70 countries have declared state of emergency to halt the spread and protect their people from the virus, it said.

After an in-depth deliberation and with slight change, the Council of Ministers has decided the draft bill to enter into force as of today, April 8, 2020, the statement indicated.

The Council also discussed on the draft bill approving three loan agreements signed with the International Development Association (IDA), a financial institution which offers concessional loans and grants to developing countries.

The three agreements are $41.3m loan for Ethiopia’s COVID19 emergency response, $54.9m for the second Africa CDC regional investment project and $134.6m for Ethiopia’s growth and competitiveness programmatic development policy project.

The Council sent both draft bills to be approved by the House of People’s Representatives (parliament).