Gov’t hopeful parliament will pass 2022-2023 fiscal budget on time

JUBA – South Sudan cabinet said on Friday that it is optimistic that the transitional parliament will pass the budget for the fiscal year 2022-2023 on time.

Speaking to reporters after a regular cabinet meeting on Friday in Juba, Michael Makuei Lueth Information Minister disclosed that this year’s budget will not delay like last year.

“The financial year will be ending on 30th June and we are optimistic that this time, this budget will go through up to the parliament before the end of the financial year,” Makuei told reporters on Friday.

South Sudan struggled to pass the 2021-2022 fiscal year budgets due to a lack of legitimate parliament.

The 2021-2022 budget was supposed to be tabled in parliament not later than 15 May which runs from 30th July to 30th June of each year but due to a lack of legitimate parliament, it did not take place for the past two years.

On Friday, the Minister of Finance and Planning presented to the council of ministers an estimated 862 billion South Sudanese Pounds budget for the fiscal year 2022-2023.

“The budget was 862 billion South Sudanese Pounds and it is divided as follows: 763 billion SSP will be from oil revenue and 99 billion SSP will be from non-oil revenue,” Makuei said.

Makuei said that the budget will be passed to parliament in the next cabinet meeting.

“This will be the first budget that will be passed by the cabinet and probably pass by the parliament before the end of the financial year,” he said.