By Taban Gabriel
On Monday, 11th November 2024, the Transitional National Legislative Assembly passed the Fiscal Year Budget to the tune of SSP 4.2 trillion, with a significant deficit of SSP 2.6 trillion expected to be generated from non-oil revenue.
The Fiscal Year budget supports increment in taxes and fees across different sectors in the country, with some services such as passports and nationality cards charged in United States dollars (USD).
Reacting to the resolution of the August House, Citizens in Juba raised concerns over the “exorbitant tax” while citing a lack of citizens’ views in the formulation process.
Some of them who spoke to King Media believed that the participation of the “common person” during the stages of the budget would enhance its acceptance at the grassroots level.
“To me, what I am seeing is that citizens have not participated in this budget process, and I think usually, sometimes they may give views like the media will bring one of the parliamentarians, and then this is discussed like a panel discussion like this let people give views. This time, I don’t think this thing is done”
Pastor Gideon expressed doubt about the implementation of some of the sections cited in the fiscal year budget.
“The promises have been now two years since last year. We are going to pay, and we are going to clear all the arrears, but it remains the same. To me, I just say unless the government pay the salaries and arrears, then I will believe that the government is now meaning their words,” Gideon said
Ferida Ikang, a resident of Munuki, said the increase in taxation will worsen the economic situation in the country
“According to me, things will be worse than the current situation. Just imagine with the current moderate taxes, it wants to kill us, we have complained to no avail, and now you want to add another problem on top of the current situation, I don’t know what we can do, the situation will be worse than the previous one” Ikang said
Ikang decried insufficient information to the citizens during the stages of the budget preparation
“One thing I know about the National budget is, let there be a right information to the people because the South Sudanese at the grassroots, don’t know anything; the National budget advocacy should not be conducted only in Juba, there are people at the different places outside Juba, like Yambio, Meridi, Rumbek they don’t know anything about the National budget and what it is because they are just there hearing other people speaking about it”
Mama Khadija Cleopas said the increase in taxation “will kill us” and urged the government to drop the clause for tax increment.
Khadija calls on the parliament to introduce a budget education “for the ordinary citizen to benefit.”
According to Khadija, the majority of South Sudanese citizens are ignorant about the process of national budget formulations.
“There are a lot of people working in different sectors, but they don’t know anything about the National budget, that is why this budget that they are talking about should be brought down to Payam and Boma level for people to know the benefit of the budget and even what it is, let them educate people,” Mama Khadija said
The sources spoke to King News during a media consultation on budget formulations organized by Imatong Consultancy in Juba on Wednesday.
South Sudan’s National budget is annually passed by June according to the Transitional constitution. However, due to delays between the legislatures and cabinet, it is passed in November 2024