The Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) moved the Anticorruption Commission 2009 Act (Amendment) Bill 2023 from the second reading to the third reading stage during a session held on Tuesday.
The bill was presented before the House by Joy Kwaje, a member of the Public Accounts Committee, who said it was thoroughly examined by her committee and the Committee for Legislation and Justice which drew references from the 2018 peace agreement and related legislations from East African countries.
She highlighted that the Southern Sudan Anticorruption Commission Act 2009 (Amendment) Bill 2023 is one of the laws that was assigned to the National Constitutional Amendment Committee (NCAC) for review and amendment, to enhance the effectiveness of the South Sudan Anticorruption Commission.
In their report, the joint committee emphasized that the current staff of the commission, transferred from other public entities, have not undergone ethical and integrity screening. The bill provides the necessary framework to evaluate staff members based on their competence.
For his part, John Agany Deng, the chairperson of TNLA’s Information Committee, emphasized the bill’s significance, revealing that during deliberations, 19 lawmakers contributed to the discussions.
The bill has now been pushed to the third reading where outstanding issues will be addressed.
Agany emphasized the bill’s importance in curbing corruption and urged the government to prioritize its passage.
During the debate, Farouk Gatkouth Kam, the SPLM-IO chief whip, raised concerns about the proposed seven-year tenure for the Commission’s chairperson and suggested that a shorter term might be more appropriate.
He also questioned the criteria for appointing the deputy chairperson and proposed that he/she should not necessarily share the requirement of having a legal background like the chairperson.
Meanwhile, Achol Thomas Bak Akol, an MP from Makal County in Upper Nile State, stressed the need to put aside party politics in the fight against corruption. She emphasized the importance of lawmakers taking a strong stance against corruption, regardless of political affiliations.
Speaker Jemm Nunu Kumba subsequently moved the bill to the third reading, incorporating all recommendations, and assigned the two committees the make the agreed changes and report back to parliament within 14 days.