South Sudan’s civil society organization CEPO has called on the National Parliament to conduct a public hearing on the budget for the fiscal year 2015/2016 before the members deliberate this week.

Speaking on Monday to Radio Tamazuj, the Executive Director of CEPO Edmund Yakani said his organization is urging the government to make the budget public before its passing through a public hearing and discussions on radio and television.

He said as taxpayers’ contributions to the budget matters a lot.

Last week on Friday the cabinet approved a budget of 10.8 billion South Sudanese Pounds for 2015/2016. On Monday the budget was tabled and referred to the special committees in parliament.

“CEPO is strongly calling upon the honorable members of national legislature to ensure that this budget meets the demand for allocation of 10% for agriculture as priority,” said Yakani.

He also expressed concern about fiscal accountability for funds given to the security sector. “As taxpayers, we are afraid that there is high corruption in various forms in regards to the security budget.

File photo: Activist Edmund Yakani at an anti-war march in Juba, South Sudan