The Revitalized Transitional National Legislative Assembly (R-TNLA) decided on Monday to postpone the questioning session for ministers and the governor of Central Equatoria State. They were summoned to address concerns about the increasing number of street children in the capital, Juba, with a new date yet to be determined.
Earlier this month, the R-TNLA summoned six ministers, including the Ministers of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Gender, Child and Social Welfare, Interior, General Education and Instruction, and Humanitarian Affairs, along with the governor of Central Equatoria State.
However, on Monday, only three of the summoned senior government officials were present—Ruben Madol, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs; Ayaa Benjamin Warille, Minister of Gender, Child and Social Welfare; and Angelina Teny, Interior Minister.
Jemma Nunu Kumba, the Speaker of the R-TNLA, informed national legislators that she had received official communication from the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Governor Emmanuel Adil Anthony that they were out of Juba on an official mission.
“The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs wrote an official letter, stating that he was on an official mission to the Middle East, so he won’t be able to attend. And I believe he’s still there. The Minister of General Education is unwell, and the Governor of Central Equatoria State is currently outside of Juba,” she said.
“We currently have the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, and the Minister of Interior present. Out of the six officials expected to be here, only three are in attendance. I would like to inquire with the House whether we should proceed with the three ministers or discuss an alternative course of action. What are your thoughts?” she inquired.
Ambrose Lomin, the Deputy Chairperson of the Committee for Higher Education, Science, and Technology in Parliament, expressed the view that it would be prudent to adjourn the questioning session to another day when the Governor of Central Equatoria State is present.
Lomin emphasized that Governor Adil, as the host, should be the first to address the people and explain why the issue of street children has not been adequately tackled.
“Our ministers are guests of the Governor of Central Equatorial State. Therefore, we need the governor to address the August House before our ministers. I propose that we adjourn the meeting until the governor is present,” stated Lomin.
Meanwhile, Joy Kwaje Eluzai from Central Equatoria state argued that if there is a decision to summon governors, it should be extended to all governors of the ten states. She pointed out that the issue of children in the streets of Juba is not specific to Central Equatoria alone.
“I suggest that we postpone this particular item to await the attendance of the remaining ministers, especially the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Education. However, the children on the streets are children of the cities of South Sudan,” she remarked. “If we are to invite governors, it should be the governors of all ten states. These are not just the children of Central Equatoria.”
Speaker Nunu Kumba further announced that the ministers and the governor would be summoned on a day to be communicated.