Mogadishu ( UM) – Yesterday the new National Economic Council (NEC) was inaugurated by the Prime Minister and Minister of Planning in Mogadishu. The NEC is made up of financial and economic experts including, Foreign experts who will advise the government on economic policy. This Council is non political and its advice is not binding. Many interviewed by UM welcomed the NEC but shared their concerns of a culture of “too much advice, talk and no action.”
“Somalia has too many advisers already. Everybody has something to say about Somalia but no one is implementing,” said Nur Maalim, a civil servant. “Everyone can see what is economically wrong with Somalia so this NEC is not going to change anything.”
“The NEC is good because it has educated Somalis in it but we already the Cabinet Economic Committee, IMF, World Bank and other advisers. We are becoming confused with too much advice,” said a professor of economics who did not want to be named. “Security is the main issue here for economic development and growth and I don’t think any member of the Council is a soldier or a security expert.”
Many interviewed by UM also feared that the NEC will take the role of many existing Ministries.
“What will the Ministries of Commerce, Finance and Planning do if the NEC is the main government advisory body?” said an angry civil servant who spoke to UM on the condition of anonymity. “There are trained experts who are paid by the International Banks who are ignored by the Ministries and governments and the NEC advise will go the same way. We always want something new and we forget institution building.”
When asked, if the NEC advise can have an impact on people’s lives, most interviewees were skeptical.
“It is a good idea to have this Council but what can they do about insecurity, closed roads, the robbery of public land and poor leadership in our political and policy making processes? The issue with Somalia is not too little advise, it is no action where it matters,” said Barni Jama Abdi, a NGO worker in Mogadishu. “This government has many good ideas economically but there is no action.”