JUBA – The Speaker of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly, Dr. Jemma Nunu Jumba, said on Wednesday that the assembly was compelled to suspend some of its activities due to lack of funds.
While addressing lawmakers during the reopening of the parliament after a long recess on Wednesday, Dr. Nunu said while parliament carried out the majority of its necessary responsibilities for the year, the assembly only received 40% of its budgeted budget, forcing them to put some operations on hold.
“You will see in our annual report, copies of which are provided before you, that a good number of activities had to be shelved due to lack of funds,” Nunu said.
“In effect, as reflected in the financial annual report, the National Legislature received only about 40% of its allocated budget for the 2024-2025 fiscal year.”
She stated that this represented broad fiscal restrictions across many public sector institutions, which had major implications for service delivery, particularly at the community level.
Nunu highlighted multiple challenges facing the country, including insecurity stemming from intercommunal Nassir incidents and, most crucially, economic challenges.
“The effects of the aforementioned challenges were widespread but felt most acutely at the grassroots, where a majority of our people live,” she said.
“Delays in payment of government salaries and inadequate delivery of basic public services greatly exacerbated the situation. The national legislators were themselves not spared,” Nunu added.
The country’s first female speaker stated that lawmakers have gone for two years without wages or medical allowances, transportation allowances, and other benefits.
“In effect, some of the honorable MPs were unable to travel to their respective constituencies during the recess because their funds for that purpose were not disbursed,” Nunu noted.
“I therefore appeal for the inclusion of the medical funds for the honorable members of Parliament in the top list of the priorities of the Ministry of Finance,” she said.
“Healthy MPs mean a healthy Parliament and a healthy, effective Parliament.”
She praised the president for directing the vice president for economic cluster to ensure timely payment of salary arrears for civil servants and members of organized forces.
“From the onset, I can unreservedly affirm and confirm that, despite the difficult circumstances our country has gone through, the Transitional National Legislature has largely delivered on its constitutional mandate, representing the will of the South Sudanese people,” she said.
She added that “specifically in its role in the implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement on the resolution of the conflict in the Republic of South Sudan, as the TNL was able to pass and ratify all related laws.”
