Yei River state cabinet take oath of office
March 04, 2016 (YEI) – The newly-appointed ministers, deputy governor and advisors of South Sudan’s Yei River state took oath of office on Thursday this week.
The county High Court Judge Obac Onyong presided over the ocassion, also witnessed by religious bishops, members of parliament and county commissioners.
Those sworn-in included the ministers for information, local government, finance and public service, education, gender and social welfare, health as well as environment.
Addressing the cabinet at the state secretariat, Governor David Moses Lokonga urged the ministers to prioritise service delivery to the population they are meant to serve.
Governor Lokonga also warned his new cabinet members against corruption practices.
“The underline here is service delivery to our people. I know that we are starting with the challenges but we need to turn these challenges into opportunities. We have almost all the minerals; therefore time has come for all of us whether you are sitting under a tree our focus should be what to deliver. As a cabinet, I want to assure you that laziness is not needed. Somebody who is not taking time as important, I think, he is creating other problems”, he warned.
“Take note of what I am saying, after six months, you are going to prepare a report. Corruption deprived our people from getting the basic social services and I want to assure that corruption, nepotism is an enemy to the people of South Sudan. We have to prepare to unit our people and them into jobs by merits”, he stressed.
Speaking on behalf of his counterparts, information minister, Stephen Wani Onesmo advised his colleagues to cultivate transparency and service delivery.
“The honorable ministers will work without fear or favour and discrimination, to ensure good governance, accountability, transparency and responsive Government. The ministers will work hard to fight corrupt practices and administrative multipractices within the ministries to ensure public interest is delivered. The ministers will work in a consultative manner to ensure service delivery a dividend is maximised for the benefits of the citizens in this state”, said Wani.
He added, “The ministers will build working relationship with the development partners for effective service delivery within the state”.
The Bishop of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan, Emmanuel Hillary Luate Adeba advised the politicians to work as a team in building a strong foundation for the state.
“We believe that you are capable to manage the affairs of the state. Make sure you build this state in a strong foundation, be united and work for the interest of the people you are serving. We will not be happy to see that the founders of this state have failed Yei, we want to see that you succeed and we all succeed”, said the Bishop.
(ST).