South Sudan to increase military budget to $536 million
May 12, 2006 (JUBA) — The Southern parliament has dramatically increased its budget for military expenses for the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA). Around 40 per cent (536 million dollars) of the southern government ‘s entire budget will now be spent on the army.
The budget was unanimously decided upon by the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly yesterday. The total budget amounts to 1.3 billion dollars, all of which will be raised through oil revenue .
Major amendments have been made to the spending plan since it was first presented by the minister of finance and economic planning earlier this year.
The assembly noted that the percentage of the budget allocated to Government of Southern Sudan ministries is considerably larger than the percentage allocated to the states. The Ministry of Agriculture has 330 staff, while the combined agricultural ministries of the states and counties have 3650. Yet out of the 8,855,155 dollars allocated to the agricultural sector , only 975,000 will go to the states and counties.
The assembly described unnecessary expenditure by government officials as ‘an abuse of privilege’. It says domestic and international travel rates by government officials represent the highest expenditure in the budget and must be cut down to facilitate other essential service . The budget neglects the priority of the Ministry of Education.
The assembly called on the GOSS minister of finance an economic planing to initiate plans to exploit the south Sudan’s natural resources to supplement the oil revenue.
(Juba Post/ST)