Jonglei Parliament Rejects 2011 Budget Draft

6 April 2011

Bor — Jonglei assembly has rejected the 2011 budget draft in its first reading, as presented by state finance minister, Aquila Malith Mam on 6 April.

The budget draft was criticised by the parliament due to what they saw as errors which need adjustment by the state council of ministers, before a second reading.

In a press statement last month, the speaker of Jonglei Assembly, Peter Chol, criticised the state council of ministers for not presenting the 2011 budget for discussion, alleging the February -March teachers strike, which called upon the government to pay them January housing allowances, and the subsequent withdrawal of civil housing allowances for all civil workers in February, was caused by insufficient use of 2008 budget. The 2011 workforce in the state is much larger.

Chol told Sudan Tribune that finance minister Aquila and local government minister, Diing Akol presented the proposed state budget for 2011 after being requested by the house to do so.

Chol said the parliament has not passed a budget since 2009, saying the current parliament, whose members were sworn in, after April general elections in June 2010, will try their best to make sure that the budget is in place.

Jongeli’s 2011 budget is expected to cover housing allowances and other benefits civil workers are entitled to.

The budget is expected to include state incomes, projecting the collection of local revenue and financial support from the Government of South Sudan and the Jonglei state expenditure.

Jonglei state is among other Southern states whose revenues collected from taxes reached over SDG1.2 million (US$450,000) a year, as revealed by taxation officers. However, financial mismanagement remains a big challenge.

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