Southern Sudan assembly passes budget for 3rd reading

By Isaac Vuni

January 23, 2009 (JUBA) — The Government of South Sudan’s legislators have today passed the 2009 budget for its third and final reading, which should have been done last December.

The GOSS minister of finance has warned that Southern Sudan is slipping toward economic disaster as oil prices in the world market continue dropping. He thus urged the MPs to find ways to improve on other sources of revenue collection rather than depending largely on oil revenue. The minister also warned that this year’s general salary of GOSS employees would not be the same, indicating possible cuts in salaries, emoluments and hospitalities allowances.

Last year there were high overruns in military expenses. “If the president directs me to release fund for security, should I wait to consult the assembly for approval?” posited the minister of finance.

Earlier the chairman of Economy, Development and Finance committee, Hon. Barri Wanji, outlined ministries that have overspent. These are the office of the president, which had a 98% overrun, the Vice President’s Office at 100%, the Presidential Affairs Office at 100%, Legal Affairs at 90%, Regional Corporation at 80%, South Sudan Legislative Assembly at 27% and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting at 160%, among others.

He also disclosed that a sum of 141 million Sudanese pounds was approved by the ministry of finance toward Constituency Development Fund (CDF) of 78 counties of South Sudan, which is due to be transacted through the bank.

Hon. Wanji said the budget crisis, as described by ministers, was caused by ministers themselves by imposing wrong direction on the economy, hindering concentrated production and development activities that would guarantee employment for South Sudanese. He appealed to the minister of finance to develop a national economic control and exchange rate and emphasized that food security was paramount for people of south Sudan, which imports food from abroad.

Hon. Oliver Mori Benjamin appealed to Assembly chairpersons to present their working plan including how much they spend, as an example to ministers to help them avoid wasteful spending.

He also wondered whether the formation of commissions for anti-corruption and human rights were merely a show for the international community. He also suggested that GOSS must indicate how much money was spent on accommodations and provisions for LRA negotiators during the period when Southern Sudan was attempting to mediate a solution between the northern Ugandan rebels and the Ugandan government.

Hon. Dr. Achol Marial Deng accused Speaker James Wani Igga of being preferential toward particular legislators, allegedly protecting GOSS rather than the suffering people. He also challenged the minister of finance to elucidate on how much money was approved and loaned to individuals from 2006 to 2008, and to whom it was distributed. Otherwise, he noted, the finance minister could have given to family members at the expense of southerners, without anyone knowing.

Hon. Mori suggested that student loans should be introduced for study purposes while the number of technical schools be increased. There is only one operational in Juba, noted Mori.

The minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, who is also acting minister for Education Science and Technology, said that there are 28,000 teachers and administrators, 300 scholarships given to students in Egypt, 300 for returnees children in East Africa, five in Malaysia, 19 in Ethiopia and 10 in Rwanda. While the one in South African yet to materialize. He suggested that more new universities should be built this year to accommodate many children now missing higher education in their own country.

Hon. Henry Oyat said many young graduates are roaming around without employment because their own government has failed to recruit them, instead handing opportunities to foreigners. He also noted that fifteen vehicles were budgeted for the fire brigade in the last budget but only two are released and he wondered what happened to the other thirteen vehicles.

Hon. John Oromo Itorong said the minister of finance used 4.4 billion from appropriations bill without approval of the assembly and cautioned the minister of finance not to hide under food security spending, otherwise next budget will be unrealistic.

Meanwhile the minister of presidential affairs, Dr. Luka Biong Deng, defended his ministry, saying that he was in touch with the presidency regarding pledges given for health and education in areas they visited.

Minister Mary Kiden Kimbo, Minister of Gender, Social welfare and Religious Affairs, said “a desperate situation demands desperate measures,” referring to the matter that the commission should allocate more for widows.

Journalists encountered difficulties in accessing vital presentations, including one made by the chairman of the Economy, Development and Finance Committee.

There were 96 legislators in the hall and the debate ended at 7:16 p.m. Sudan local time.

(ST)