Kumba promises to pay lawmakers on time, urges MPs to put citizens’ interest first

JUBA – South Sudan’s newly-appointed speaker of the Reconstituted Transitional National Legislative Assembly Jemma Nunu Kumba has promised to pay the country’s lawmakers on time and urged the newly-appointed MPs who took oath of office today to put the citizens’ interest first.

Kumba who is the country’s first female speaker of parliament was speaking during the swearing in ceremony of the lawmakers that was administered by the South Sudan Chief Justice Chan Reec Madut at Freedom Hall in Juba this morning.

“We as representative of our people should look beyond political partisan and tribal differences and focus keenly on the good of all,” Nunu said.

The country’s first female speaker of national parliament vowed to ensure lawmakers are paid on time.

“The assembly leadership will do all it could to ensure that the salaries of members and other benefits are timely paid to them,” she said.

She urged the lawmakers to work toward peace implementation.

“South Sudanese are putting their hope in us and it is therefore up to us by committing ourselves to the peace agreement and brings our people out of misery,” she said.

“We shouldn’t take our people to war again. The chances are left with no one else but each and every one of us in this August house and what we do in coming months or years is what history will judge us,” she added.

Deng Deng Akon, Speaker of the Council of States said the government can’t be complete without functioning parliaments.

“With the national parliament and council of states, the government can’t be complete. Parliament and Council of States integrate part of functioning government and play an oversize role in running the government,” Deng said.

“This is a historical moment for our country because our people have suffered for a long and it is our responsibility to get the trust bestowed upon us by the peace agreement and we should speedily work to gain trust for our people,” Deng added.

He called for speedy implementation of the 2018 peace agreement in a bid to restore international trust.

“This peace agreement is the only hope for our people and speedy implementation of the peace agreement will restore international trust in South Sudan,” he said.

“Our the country is still at a cross and our people are suffering from poverty, diseases, and rampant insecurities across the country as a result of a deal in peace implementation,” he added.