Jonglei state advisor opposes Bor municipality status
June 11, 2016 (BOR) – An official in South Sudan’s Jonglei state has openly opposed the establishment of Bor town municipality as well as the appointment of its mayor, saying the entire process is illegal.
“There are two ways through which the municipality could be created, either the governor issues provisional order creating the municipality if the parliament is not working. This order is then reviewed by the assembly to see if it [municipality] meets the conditions for it to exist. Or the executive proposes it and request the parliament to pass it. If the parliament passes it, good but if the parliament rejects it, then it should not exist,” Akol told a meeting organized in Bor town last Saturday.
Bor town municipality was decreed by the former governor, Kuol Manyang Juuk nearly four years ago. Since then, its status has never been discussed in the assembly and never passed into a legal entity.
“This municipality should be passed by Jonglei state assembly so that it becomes a legal entity which can sue and be sued”, said Akol.
For a place to get municipality status, the advisor said, populations, economic viability and territorial size of land have to be considered.
“According to South Sudan Local Government Act 2009, the municipality should have a population ranging from 100,000 to 300,000 people. It must be able to generate at least 75% of its budget on its own and it must have a size of the land”, he added.
Bor town, according to the 2008 census results, had a population of 61, 224, which is reportedly far below the required population. This time, however, after the formation of the 28 states, many people had gone to various states that were curved out of Jonglei.
Economically, Bor municipality is unable to generate half of its budget.
“Municipality is not about moving in a car that has a flag. Municipality is about generating money to improve services to the people”, said Akol.
Last week, Jonglei state governor appointed Akim Ajieth Buny, as the mayor of Bor town, replacing Nhial Majak Nhial who was sacked some months ago. But Akol insists the mayor’s appointment is illegal.
“Mayor should be elected by the people for a four-year two terms if his performances are good. Mayor should be someone who lives in that particular town or municipality, not someone who comes running from other place to contest, no”, he further explained.
Akim has a family in Australia, and currently holds Australian citizenship.
Akol said Bor municipality does not even have legislators who monitor performances of the mayor and the heads of departments.
But Philip Thon Nyok, who represents Bor town in the state assembly, dismissed the economic advisor’s criticism of Bor municipality status.
“Someone said the existence of the municipality is not legally corrected. Where were you since it was formed? When this municipality was formed, you were in the government as minister of local government, but failed to mention these to the former governor,” said Thon.
He added, “You [Akol] became advisor to the current governor, but you have never told him all these. You are just making noise for nothing”.
But while many agreed with Akol on the basis that Bor municipality was not economically viable, others felt it was too late to reverse the decree.
(ST)