Members of the Jonglei State Legislative Assembly have passed into law a bill that allows the state government to start taxing its citizens for the first time in a major policy shift in the state.

This comes after the US dollar strengthened further against the South Sudanese Pound (SSP) this week in the ongoing deterioration of the country’s economy.

Speaking to reporters in Bor town on Friday, Charles Manyang Awuol, the Speaker of Jonglei State Legislative Assembly, said each person from the age of 18 to 65 years old will be required to pay 300 SSP yearly.  

“Money comes from people, government does not produce money. It is people who contribute money and ask the government to do for them what they need,” he said.

Awuol further said that 60 percent of the collected revenues from taxes would go to payams and the remaining 40 percent would be for the state government to build schools, hospitals and health centres.

“What we have decided now is a law to pay taxes and it is a difficult thing. Because there is no government that can work without taxes paid. In the taxes, 60 percent will go to payams and 40 percent will remain here,” Awuol explained.

The speaker added that the new policy will commence after the deliberation and passing of Revenue Authority Bill due on Monday.

He further said that the finance committee in the parliament would work together with the state ministry of finance in the management of taxes, while emphasizing the importance of accountability in the state.

The speaker stated that everyone employed or unemployed will pay the taxes.

Members of the state assembly resumed work recently after months on recess.