South Sudan decentralization is not a reality
By Martin Abucha
Feb 14, 2007 — Southern Sudan is far from decentralization. It is just like a fiction if one has to believe there is a decentralized system of government in Southern Sudan. The constitution of Southern Sudan provided a decentralized system but the reality of GOSS is not what is enshrined in the constitution. The GOSS ministers particularly of Education and Health are performing duties of state ministers.
GOSS is the central government; its function is policy-making and executing national issue such as the army (security), foreign policy, coordination between states, federal taxation code etc. This is what the people of Southern Sudan expect GOSS to do. The duties of GOSS are clearly spelled out in the Interim Constitution of Southern Sudan, 2005 Schedule B. Schedule C of the interim constitution of Southern Sudan, 2005 details the responsibility of the states. I find it absurd for GOSS to fail to understand the different roles each government branch has to play. GOSS as the national body should not be building and owning schools or hospitals. This is the responsibility of the states. GOSS should make the policy; provide the states with the resources, so that the states develop. This is what the states and the counties are for. They are the delivery machine of GOSS. GOSS does not need to manage a school, hospital, etc. This is the responsibility of the state.
This is probably why there is NO money going to the state and county governments; secondly, the central government (GOSS) is loaded with work that does not belong to them. Thirdly, state ministers have nothing to do, because GOSS ministers are performing on their behalf.
GOSS has to decentralize the system as required by the constitution and demand states to perform their duties as required by the constitution. In countries like the United States, state governments have larger budgets than the departments. Why, because they are the delivery agent not the federal government. For fiscal year 2007 according to Hon. Wanji, all ten states in the Southern Sudan will receive about $19 million while the budget for 2007 is $1.5 billion dollars. This means that, all ten states will use only 1.3% of the total budget of Southern Sudan. How will the state governments deliver any service? I think GOSS has to examine how it functions.
I think the ministry of Legal and Constitutional Affairs needs to examine if GOSS ministers are over stepping their boundaries. There is also need to assess the needs of the people through the people. This means going to the local community through their states, counties, etc. For GOSS to assume the needs of the people without involving the stakeholders’ is just flat wrong, the development Southern Sudan dreams of will not happen at the pace expected.
Having seen what has happened at GOSS level, one has to be concern about what happens at the state/county level. At this point of time, GOSS should engage the state and county governments to find out the human resource needs. This is important to design and execute any program/projects. Failure from GOSS to evaluate all ministers in the Southern Sudan (including state ministers, commissioners, and governors) will lead to no progress. I strongly believe GOSS must hirer consultants to help the government settle and start delivering services.
* The author is based in Phoenix Arizona USA. He can be reached at [email protected]