The Parliament on Tuesday passed the government proposed legislative amendment to refine the responsibilities of the Attorney General’s (AG) office.
While the Constitution defines the Attorney General’s Office as an independent body, it had operated under the Civil Service Commission before the Attorney General’s Act was ratified by the President in May to establish it as an independent entity.
However, the government in June proposed an amendment to the Act to refine the responsibilities of the AG’s Office, define employment terms of its lawyers and review salaries and benefits of its staff.
According to the amendment passed by the majority of lawmakers during Tuesday’s Parliament sitting, the AG’s office will fall under the purview of the President’s authority, mandating the Attorney General to formulate a structure for the positions of the Deputy Attorney General, Secretary General and other employees and seek the approval of the President.
The AG’s Office had previously stressed the need for the amendment, to allow the President’s Office to have a role in formulating its organisational structure.