By King News
King News 04 September Juba-On Wednesday, during a session of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly in Juba, Changkuoth Reth, Chairperson of the Specialized Committee on Finance and Economic Planning, proposed a significant reallocation of resources. He suggested that 20 barrels previously designated for development and non-oil revenue be redirected toward the payment of salaries for civil servants, organized forces, and constitutional post holders.
“I am, therefore, suggesting and requesting this August House to direct the minister of and SSRA/ commissioner general to put SSRA collection into the government salary account,” Hon. Changkuoth said
“Suspend (put on hold) the resolution of the cabinet which allocates the Nile Blend Crude oil for infrastructure development projects and be reallocated by redirecting it to pay and clear wages and salaries,”
In his address, Hon. Changkuoth Reth, disclosed that the monthly wage bill for civil servants in South Sudan amounts to 85 billion South Sudanese pounds, according to figures provided by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning.
“This implies that both South Sudan Revenue Authority and Nile Blend Crude Oil are sufficient to pay the entire wage bill monthly and cater for keeping the government operational and slowly clear the entire government salaries and the foreign missions’ arrears that accumulated for almost ten months,” Hon. Reth stated.
The legislator noted that this could be used as the temporary answer until a better solution is found to reallocate back the 20,000 a day for infrastructural development.
In response, First Deputy Speaker Oyet Nathaniel Pierieno emphasized that the proposal carries significant financial implications. He advised that the lawmaker must consult with the executive branch before proceeding further with the matter.
“The statement is in place, the only issue is that it has financial implications, and any statement or bill having financial implications will require dialogue between the August House and the Executive,”
Oyet referred to Article 89 of the constitution, which says, “No member of the National Legislative Assembly, outside the context of the deliberations of the draft general budget, shall introduce any financial bill or move any amendment to a bill having the object or effect of abolishing, imposing or increasing any tax or imposing any charge upon the public revenue or reserves, save with the prior consent of the National Council of Ministers.”
“The Minister of Finance, on the authority of the Council of Ministers, shall issue a certificate that a proposed bill or an amendment has such object or effect, and such certification shall be conclusive.” Hon. Oyet Nathaniel said
“A bill or an amendment shall not be deemed to have such object or effect by reason that it includes provisions for the imposition of fines or other pecuniary penalties or the payment of fees for services rendered.” He continued
“So, this particular Articles requires that the House dialogue with the Ministry of Finance to go to the Council of Ministers and tables this particular request, but it cannot stop any member from moving a bill that has financial implications,” the Deputy Speaker noted.
He added, “You can move, but the exception or limitation is that you need the cooperation of the Executive.”
Oyet additionally referred the matter to the Committee on Finance and Planning, as well as the Committee on Legislation and Justice, for further consultation with the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning.