The speaker of the Warrap State Legislative Assembly has said that a recent change in the political leadership of the state has delayed the house’s resumption of business.
In late November last year, President Kiir relieved former Governor Gen. Aleu Ayieny and replaced him with Manhiem Bol Malek.
Speaker Kuec Deng Mayar told Radio Tamazuj Friday that the state legislature only passed two bills in the last session and has not reopened due to state leadership changes.
“We closed and went for recess on 11 August 2022 and were officially expected to resume on 11 November 2022 but the political changes that relieved Gen. Aleu Ayieny and brought in Governor Manhiem set back the reopening,” he explained. “So, we are supposed to resume on 30 January but I have been waiting for the executive to respond to our request to prepare to resume business on that date but the governor is still in Juba.”
Speaker Deng said the new governor has been facing many challenges and dealing with insecurity in Tonj East County.
“The governor went to Juba and will not be able to come and open the assembly at the end of the month,” he said.
Regarding the assembly’s achievements, the speaker said they passed the resolution on the Conduct of Business and Emoluments Act before the recess.
“It is a very important document for members to regulate themselves as legislatures,” he said. “We also passed the Emoluments Act which increases members’ salaries from SSP 45,000 to 260,000.”
“All constitutional post holders also benefit from the Emoluments Act and members approved the payment of salaries for November and December last year,” he added.
Meanwhile, Ariech Mayar Ariech, a member of the state parliament representing South Kuech, said the house could not resume work because it had to be reopened by the governor who happens to be out of town.
“It was difficult to resume because Governor Manhiem returned to Juba in the first week of January and by law, it is the head of the executive to oversee the opening of the house,” he said. “The governor did not delegate his powers to the acting governor to reopen parliament and present the government’s policy statement.”
Mayar said the welfare of the state parliamentarians had improved under the leadership of the new governor.
On his part, William Wol Mayom, the Warrap State information minister said the state assembly would not resume business on 30 January due to the governor’s absence.
“The reopening of the assembly will not be possible on 30 January because the governor is presenting state reports in Juba,” he said. “Also, it is true that the new emoluments for constitutional post holders were partially implemented because of budgetary constraints.”