S. Sudan lawmakers to scrutinize local government bill in committee
By Isaac Vuni
March 18, 2009 (JUBA) — The long-awaited Local Government Bill 2009 today was presented to lawmakers for thorough scrutiny and deliberation before the Assembly closes for a recess for members sensitize citizens about the Constituency Development Funds (CDFs) and prepare for the general election scheduled for July 2009.
Presenting the 90-page document, Minister of Legal Affairs and Constitutional Development Michael Makuei Lueth elaborated on details on preliminary provisions, guiding principles, decentralized system of local government, organization of local government councils, legislative, executive and civil service councils, local government planning and finance councils, land and local resources councils, customary law courts, traditional authorities of south Sudan, inter-governmental linkages, extra-governmental linkages and miscellaneous provisions.
While chairing the discussion, Hon. Daniel Monydit together with 95 members unanimously agreed to refer the document for thorough scrutiny and deliberation by the August House to the specialized committee before MPs could go for the 45-day recess for CDF sensitization.
However, as the MPs were referring local government bill for scrutiny, sources speaking by phone from Yei and Nimule indicated that disabled persons have blocked roads and entrances into southern Sudan and went on a rampage because they were not pay their salaries for the last six months. But according to an unconfirmed claim by Onesimo Vuni, contributor in the Khartoum Monitor daily newspaper, all salaries of disabled persons in Nimule have been paid accordingly under instruction of Anne Itto, a senior SPLM official.
The August House also discussed the investment bill returned from President Salva Kiir Mayardit’s office and requested august house to serious amendment some of his observations before he could enact it into law as it was presented last year.
Local journalists were unable to obtain copies of the bill, which the Assembly administrators distributed instead to Kenyan and Ugandan journalists.
(ST)