N. Bahr el Ghazal appoints new government chief whip
November 2, 2014 (JUBA) – The government of South Sudan’s Northern Bahr el Ghazal state has named Benson Opuothmalo as its new assembly chief whip.
The position of the government chief whip is not an elective leadership portfolio in accordance with the guiding rules and regulations of the parliament, although it meant to be occupied by a member of parliament from the governing party.
The second largest opposition party is also permitted to have similar structure in parliament, but this only applies to the national parliament in Juba and the assembly in Upper Nile state where the opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement for Democratic Change (SPLM-DC) is the second the largest party.
Although the 2011 transitional constitution did not properly define a chief whip’s roles, many consider them team managers of elected lawmakers who play key roles in the assembly.
Opuothmalo, who spoke to Sudan Tribune last week, welcomed his appointment and vowed to create a conducive environment for party members and MPs in the house.
He pledged to ensure smooth working relationship with the other organs of the state administration, including the executive and judiciary branches in the border region.
“The role of the chief whip is so diverse and busy. He must be a member of parliament but who is nominated by the government to the parliament to run and coordinate affairs of the government. Actually this was controller of the house before elections but it was later modified,” Opuothmalo explained on Sunday.
He cited organising meetings with members from other political parties in the house, planning parliamentary days, setting the agenda and sorting out procedural details as some of the key roles played by a chief whip in any legislative assembly.
“The chief whip also plays a role in counting and recording the votes in a division and providing advice and support for party members and ensuring that party decisions are carried,” Opuothmalo said.
Other roles, he added, include negotiating pairs from opposing parties, so that numbers between government and opposition are kept in balance if lawmakers are absent.
(ST)