Emiratis seek more involvement by council members

Abu Dhabi: Some Emiratis have criticised Federal National Council (FNC) members for failing to interact with the people of their constituencies.

They also demanded that members of the FNC should be barred from holding a range of paid second jobs.

"If members of the House really think that being a member of the FNC is a part-time job and if their constituencies are prepared to put up with it then they should only be paid a part-time salary," said Haifa Salem Al Suwaidi, an Emirati.

Haifa stressed that members of the House are elected to do a full-time job for their constituencies. However, many FNC members are apparently too busy to devote their time and energy to the job their constituencies are paying them to do, she said. They are out there in the businesses lining their own pockets. Mohammad Saeed Al Mansouri, another UAE national, agreed: "Day-to-day issues of concern to ordinary Emiratis must top the agenda of the FNC and the deputies must try hard to find solutions and send viable recommendations to the Cabinet and follow up implementations.

Al Mansouri added ordinary Emiratis have the right to air their concerns and seek justification of policies from government officials, either by direct approach or through the FNC deputies. It has been nearly two years since the reform plan for the FNC was put into action.

It was then decided that half the FNC members would be elected from electoral bodies of each emirate and the balance would be nominated by President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Since then, and under the new Speaker of the FNC, the assembly has been extremely proactive in raising issues on behalf of the citizens, while assuming its responsibilities as advisers to the Cabinet.

Dr Hassan Al Subhi, professor of mass communication at the UAE University, said instead of a two-year term, four or five years will be better.

"This will allow new members not only time to discharge their duties, but also to fully learn and understand what is expected of them."