A heated debate ensued in the National Assembly when the Minister of Rural and Urban Development, Erastus Uutoni, firmly rejected the National Council's proposed amendments to the Electoral Amendment Bill. 

The bill, having reached the committee stage, proposed that the remunerated member is deemed to have resigned from the public service with effect from the date on which the results of the elections are announced. 

Some members of Parliament opposed Uutoni's rejection, arguing that it is inhumane to require a public servant to resign from their job before contesting to be a member of Parliament. 

They highlighted the unfairness of leaving public servants without income for four months with no guarantee of becoming a successful candidate.

The proposed amendments stipulate a remunerated member may accept a nomination but must take leave from their employment from the publication date of their name on the party list until the election results are announced. If the remunerated member accepts the nomination but fails or refuses to take leave, they are deemed to have been on leave. 

Should the remunerated member be nominated, they are considered to have resigned from public service effective the date of the election results.
 
However, the National Council expressed strong disagreement with these proposed amendments, presenting a contrary perspective.

The bill was passed without amendments.