BackThe Ethiopian Institution of the Ombudsman (EIO) is one of the established democratic institutions that have been given the responsibility to contribute their contribution in the process of establishing good governance in the country.
EIO was established in the year 1999 by Article 55 Sub-Article 1 and 15 Constitution of Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopian in Decree No. 211/1999. It is accountable to the House of People's Representatives.
The institution did not start operations by the time it was established due to a lack of manpower, material, budget, and other resources. Evidences suggest that it began its full operations five years after its establishment.
The main purpose of the establishment of the institution is to ensure that the rights and interests of people stipulated by law are respected by the executive bodies, and to ensure that good government administration with quality, efficiency and transparency based on the rule of law prevails.
The powers and functions of the EIO entail overseeing regulations, administrative directives, and decisions issued by executive organs to ensure they align with citizens' constitutional rights and legal frameworks. The EIO conducts investigations into maladministration based on complaints or proactively initiates inquiries into crucial matters. It recommends suitable remedies when instances of maladministration are identified and supervises the executive to ensure compliance with the law and prevent malpractice. The EIO conducts studies to address maladministration issues, providing actionable recommendations for improvement. Additionally, it makes suggestions for revising existing laws and practices, as well as formulating new policies to enhance good governance. The EIO offers advice to the government on good governance matters, raises awareness about good governance and administrative justice, and engages in international events related to governance. It also oversees the implementation of access to information law, along with carrying out other necessary activities to achieve its objectives.
Although it has been authorized by decree to carry out many activities based on the purpose of its establishment, it does not have the authority to see or investigate the following four issues፡decisions made by elected councils in their legislative role, decisions rendered or cases in progress in courts of law or quasi-judicial bodies, decisions made or cases under review by the Federal or Regional Office of the Auditor-General, and decisions made by police forces or defense forces concerning national security or defense matters.
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Source: Institution of the Ombudsman of Ethiopia
