Article from and by Radio Tamazuj
Dated 21 June 2019
Torit lawmakers go for three month recess
(Torit, South Sudan) - The members of Torit state legislative assembly on Wednesday held their final session before going for a three-month recess period.
Dated 21 June 2019
Torit lawmakers go for three month recess
(Torit, South Sudan) - The members of Torit state legislative assembly on Wednesday held their final session before going for a three-month recess period.
Since its opening on March 11, the state assembly held 36 sittings.
The assembly’s speaker, Charles Udwar told Radio Tamazuj on Thursday that the lawmakers have gone for a three-month vacation, pointing out that they could not pass the budget and policy statements due to unstated challenges.
“In the third sessions, we were having a lot of expectations, but because of challenges, we could not accomplish what we planned to do. We wanted to deliberate on government policy statements, it was on our agenda. We also wanted to deliberate on the 2018/2019 budget, but again due to challenges, we could not deliberate on them and this remains a challenge to all of us,” said Udwar.
“We hope when we come back, the new budget of 2019/2020 will be ready and we will also be ready to work on it,” he added.
The speaker, while closing the state assembly, tasked lawmakers to disseminate the revitalized peace deal in their constituencies.
“This time is very important for all of us to go to our constituencies and disseminate the peace agreement. Our people don’t still know what is inside the document signed, but they have tested the fruits of this agreement because roads have been reopened and although they have had little services delivered to them, we want to disseminate more so that they own this agreement,” he stressed.
Flora Iliha, a lawmaker representing Torit County, said it is time to stay with people to know their challenges. She equally admitted that people at the grassroots level are not aware of the content of the peace deal signed in September 2018.
“They know how good peace is, but they don’t know what is in the peace agreement. It is good for us to go to them and share what the agreement is all about, “she said.
On his part, the state governor, Tobiolo Alberio Oromo says his government has engaged the parties to the peace agreement to maintain peace in the state.
He, however, observed that the extension of the pre-transitional period for six months makes it difficult to formulate policy statements.
“On the issue of policy statements, we are all waiting for directives from the national government for the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement,” said Tobiolo.
He added, “So when the head of the opposition asked for extension for another six months, it has made us wait until the sixth month and then get the mandate of how many ministries will be in the state.”
The governor said the state has relatively been peaceful, despite some insecurity incidents.
South Sudan President Salva Kiir, opposition leader Riek Machar and several opposition groups Kiir signed a revitalized peace deal last year but failed to form a new government as stipulated in the agreement by May 12.
The formation of the unity government was extended by six months to November after the parties failed to implement key provisions such as creating a unified army and determining the number of states.
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