South Sudan Governors’ Forum concludes with urge to decentralize

By James Gatdet Dak

October 2, 2008 (JUBA) – The 6th Governors’ Forum concluded on Thursday in Juba after four days deliberations and passed a 12-page strong resolutions and recommendations for further decentralization of necessary political, administrative and fiscal powers from the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) to the state and county levels.

In their respective presentations on Monday, Governors of the ten Southern Sudan states blamed GoSS for centralizing powers that were supposed to be devolved to state governments in accordance with the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and the Interim Constitution of Southern Sudan (ICSS) and demanded for immediate devolution of such powers.

The Forum also resolved on a wide range of key issues among which include inter-governmental relations, preparations towards the conduct of the forthcoming general elections, coordination of development and humanitarian interventions between and among various levels of government and international development partners.

On fiscal decentralization the Forum resolved and recommended that adequate resources be transferred to states in form of increase in GoSS block grants, conditional grants and foreign aid assistance, and states to further transfer sufficient resources to counties.

It stressed the need to identify a budgeting method that is flexible enough to reflect state priorities.

State governments were also urged to identify and develop non-oil resources from which to generate revenue, and that there was need to harmonize tax collection and design a clear sharing mechanism for different levels of government.

The Forum also recommended facilitation of pilot transfers of block grants in equal amounts to counties through states and further provision of technical assistance to improve on weak public financial management systems.

The Forum also noted lack of transparency and accountability by states and called for proper financial reporting by the state governments to GoSS.

On administrative decentralization, the Forum resolved and recommended implementation of public service reform in all its aspects including harmonization of salary structures and clearing of ghost names from payroll system.

It also noted weak institutional capacity in the states to deliver services and resolved on the need to further strengthen such capacities.

In resolving the issue of civil servants unwilling to serve in remote areas, the Forum resolved to give extra incentives to any civil servant working in remote areas.

On political decentralization, the Forum resolved on the need to cut the huge bureaucracy at GoSS level.

In response to overwhelming demand for creation of new counties, the Forum called on concerned authorities to expedite the process of adopting the Local Government Act so that creation of such counties would be based on objective criteria.

It also recommended for clarification in the allocation of functions between states and counties.

It also resolved on the need to set up an effective mechanism of addressing the prevalent conflicts between the executive and legislative organs at the state level.

The Governors’ Forum also recommended on the need for the two parties to CPA to dialogue in resolving their differences and to review timeline on the conduct of the forthcoming general elections.

It also recommended on the need to brief parliaments at both levels of government on the status of the process towards the conduct of the general elections and demarcation of North-South boundaries.

The Forum also called on the Ministry of Legal Affairs and Constitutional Development to expedite the process of drafting the Referendum Bill.

The meeting noted that insecurity remains a major concern in most of the states and recommended for continued implementation of resolutions of the Southern Sudan Security Committee, which include disarming the civil population.

In his closing remarks, GoSS President Salva Kiir Mayardit directed the Minister of Labor, Public Service and Human Resource Development to operationalize public service reform in the region.

Kiir also directed the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning to operationalize fiscal decentralization as resolved and recommended by the Governors’ Forum.

He also endorsed state governments’ request to establish Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs in their respective states as a link between the executive and legislative branches of their governments.

President Kiir warned against corrupt officials who employ people based on tribal affiliations, saying such employments based on tribalism and nepotism are also part of corruption.

He also warned against GoSS corrupt officials who involve in financial embezzlement and some state governments whose officials were paying themselves with higher salaries than GoSS Ministers, saying these “people wanted to swallow the whole country.”

(ST)

Below the text of Salva Kiir closing remarks at the 6th Governors Forum

Dr. Riek Machar Teny
Vice President Government of Southern Sudan

Presidential Advisors, Government of Southern Sudan

Governors of Southern Sudan States

GOSS and State Ministers

Members of Diplomatic Missions

Representatives from our sisterly country/Kenya

United Nations Development Agencies/World Bank

Chairpersons of the Specialized Committees in the
Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly.

Invited Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is once again my pleasure to join you today and indeed, I want to thank you for your efforts in bringing this Forum to its successful conclusion. I regard the 6th Governors’ Forum meeting as one of the best we have ever conducted. In particular, I would like you all to join me in appreciating the work of our Governors in providing us with detailed, professional, and comprehensive reports. You have convinced us beyond any doubt that there is considerable capacity development in your states and above all you are providing effective leadership that is committed to addressing the needs of our people. We need to build on this progress, and expect that the next Governors’ Forum meeting will be even better.

I have repeatedly said, and would like to say it here again, that the LRA activities in Southern Sudan and the region are illegal and politically misplaced. Despite our best efforts in finding a peaceful solution to this problem, it appears the LRA have not heeded our calls for peace. To this date we are still awaiting the conclusion, one way or the other, of the Government of Uganda/LRA peace talks. We urge the esteemed Special Envoy for LRA affected areas H.E. Joachim Chissano, and the Chief Negotiator Dr Riek Machar, who is here with us today, to urgently provide us with a definitive conclusion to these protracted peace talks, so that our people can once again live without fear of barbaric attacks from the LRA criminals.

It is the primary duty of all levels of government in Southern Sudan to ensure peace and security to all our people. The resolutions of the last meeting of Southern Sudan Security Committee that was attended by all governors are to be implemented and the Minister of Internal Affairs is to take a leading role and to report progress in the next meeting of the Governors Forum.

The deliberations of this forum and its resolutions confirm that we are now on the right path to operationalize decentralization. These resolutions if they are implemented we will ensure that services will be taken to our people and that they will have more say in the provision of such services. Primary among these resolutions is the need to articulate and refine our vision as a basis for effective decentralization and the re-establishment of Southern Sudan Public Service on a new basis. I direct the Minister of Presidential Affairs to take a lead in this process. Further, the Minister of Labour and Public Service is to ensure the implementation of the Public Service Reform programme that we have launched.

At this Forum, be clear that we have agreed to take full responsibility to ensure the powers held in Juba should now go out to our states and local government. During my opening remarks, I declared the year 2009 to be the year of Decentralisation. We must empower our States and Counties so that they will be in a position to discharge their responsibilities. They must demonstrate leadership that is capable of providing services to our people.

In order to empower our states and local government, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning must ensure, in the 2009 budget, to transfer most of our revenues, particularly the oil revenue, to states and counties. These are the levels of government that are closest to our people.

In making such massive transfers, we need to be sure the personnel at states and counties are able to handle their new responsibilities. We should start investing more in the capacity the counties in terms of planning and public financial management system. I direct the Minister of Labour and Public Service to ensure that relevant training institutes in public administration and accountancy are operational in 2009 so that the state civil servants can benefit from such institutions. I would urge our development partners to assist the Ministry of Labour and Public Service in this training and capacity building programme.

I congratulate Comrade Koul Manyang Juk, Governor of Jonglei State, and his entire administration for their encouraging achievements in the area of Public Service reform and I strongly urge all other Governors to study and emulate the Jonglei State model. This example should be replicated throughout Southern Sudan. I direct the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Labour and Public Service to ensure that the experience from Jonglei State is replicated in all states in 2009 and I would like both of you to report on the progress in the next Governors Forum.

As we transfer more resources to states and local government, we expect them to generate their own resources. I would like 2009 to be the year when our states raise enough funds to cover at least the salaries of their civil service. Therefore most of the transfers to states should be directed to development and other operating cost. The progress on these directives is to be reported in the next meeting of the Governors Form and I direct the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning to take a lead.

When we talk of money, we must address the issue of corruption. If the money is eaten by a few, all the rest will go hungry, and a hungry citizen is an angry citizen. This is as true in the Counties and States as it is in Juba.

Responsibility to tackle corruption lies on all our shoulders. At a personal level, if you demand unfair benefits from your relatives in Government, that is corruption. If you are tribalistic in your employment of staff, that is corruption. If you divert funds to your own pocket, that is corruption. If you give contracts in return for bribes, that is corruption. If you promote your friends and relatives, that is corruption. If you deliberately ignore the regulations and pay your staff as you choose, that also is corruption.

In fact, corruption comes in many forms, and we know them very well when we see them. However, in order to fight this endemic disease in the courts we must have the laws to do so. Until these laws exist, our hands are tied in fighting corruptees, while they betray our commitment to serve and provide services to our long-suffering people.

In order to provide a conducive legal basis for decentralization, I direct the Minister of Legal Affairs and Constitutional Development, with the relevant institutions and ministries, to expedite the legislations related to local government, civil service, taxes, public audit, financial management, corruption and public grievances. We hope such legislations will be finalized as soon as humanly possible.

We very much appreciate our development partners and donor agencies for their efforts to assist in launching the decentralization process. I would urge them to sustain their assistance to support the ongoing process as it develops. I direct the Ministers of Finance and Regional Cooperation to ensure that the resources available in MDTF, Sudan Recovery Fund, Capacity Building Trust Fund, Basic Service Fund, Common Humanitarian Fund to be directed to states and counties. The same must be done for direct bilateral assistance from USAID, JICA, EC, DFID, China, World Bank and other donors. I would like such progress to be reported in the next meeting of the forum.

Invited Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

In conclusion, I wish to seize this opportunity to congratulate and commend the efforts of every participant in this 6th Governors’ Forum. Special appreciation goes to the Organizing Committee and the Ministry of Presidential Affairs in my Office, for their hard work in making this event a success. I would also wish to express my appreciation for the contribution of the UNDP towards the Forum.

The whole country is watching us and listening to us at this historical moment of bringing a real change to the lives of our people. Let us make sure we do not let our people down. With these remarks, Ladies and gentlemen, I declare the 6th Governors’ Forum closed. I wish all of you a productive stay in Juba and a safe return to your respective States.

Good Luck and may God bless and guide you all