Jonglei State Legislative Assembly Passes 2011 Budget

26 May 2011

Bor — Jonglei state legislative assembly passed the state’s budget for the 2011 financial year budget totalling SDG194 million (US$73 million) on Wednesday.

The State Minister of Finance, Aquila Maluth Mam presented to Jonglei state parliamentarians with the budget in April.

Speaking to press after passing the budget in August House, the speaker of Jonglei legislative Assembly, Chol Wal affirmed that the budget had been passed after several amendments.

The budget consisted of state tax and non-tax revenues collected locally and financial support from the Government of South Sudan (GoSS).

In the budget it was seen that Jonglei state will receive SDG165,040,587 from GoSS, SDG15,750,000 in taxes and SDG13, 250,000 in non-tax revenues.

Wal said the budget has been facing difficulties, especially in the ministry of education, where the budget lacks a break down of salaries per grade. He said the education ministry did not give the necessary details of the work force and their grades. He said they had sent their a to the ministry of education to collect more information, assess pay sheets in all the counties but the team had failed in some areas. Although they had insufficient details from the ministry of education, We cannot let the citizens suffer just because of one ministry. That is why the budget is passed” said Wal, explaining that it would be dealt with as a lump sum.

In February this year teachers across the state went on strike, demanding the government give them housing allowances. They were forced to reopen schools in late March, with unfulfilled assurances that they would be paid their housing allowances in form of arrears.

Wall said although this year’s budget will improve salaries fpr all civil servants, it still lacks the capital required for significant development.

AllAfrica – All the Time