The Eastern Equatoria State Transitional Legislative Assembly on Monday resumed its sessions after a three-month recess.
The state legislators were required to go to their various constituencies in the eight counties.
This is the second session of the state assembly and is expected to discuss challenges affecting constituencies such as insecurity, poor roads, and cattle theft amongst others.
Severino Maira Janus, the assembly speaker while addressing the opening session welcomed them and urged them to present their reports for deliberations before the house.
“I would like to welcome the honorable members back from recess. I hope you have interacted and enjoyed your recess and communicated the government messages of peace and reconciliation to our citizens,” he said. “Similarly, the citizens should have presented their challenges about what they face and want their revitalized government to offer them. As we are opening today I expect all the members from eight constituencies to render their reports for deliberation.”
Governor Louis Lobong Lojore appealed to the members of the August house to work in collaboration with the line ministries in improving service delivery to the grassroots population.
He also called on them to commit themselves to serving the citizens by prioritizing their needs and demands above all.
“You and I have chosen the path of politics which means we have accepted to be servants of the people to represent them in all fields,” Governor Lobong said. “I, therefore, call all of us to renew our commitment to serving our people regardless of the current economic challenges in the state. We must do what is good for our people, the state, and the country.”
“In this regard, the August house must play a vital role in the promulgation of laws that improve revenue collection, curb insecurity, improve girl child education, end child and forced marriage and use of human beings as blood compensation in some of our cultures,” he stressed.
Lobong further ordered the state ministries to present the policy statements to the assembly without delay.
Angelina Quintino a member of parliament representing SPLA-IG says some members of parliament complained that the poor state of roads and insecurity prevented them from reaching their constituencies.
“You know during our time for recess there are places up to date people have not accessed. Some counties have poor roads and some people also complained that insecurity and cattle theft prevented them but all in all many need services such as schools, hospitals, and medicines,” she reiterated.
On the 22nd of June, the assembly closed to allow members to visit their constituents and disseminate government policies as well as understand the challenges facing them.