The Speaker of the South Sudan Revitalized Transitional National Legislative Assembly (R-TNLA), Jemma Nunu Kumba, on Monday issued an order constituting an ad-hoc six-member committee to design parliamentary garb for her and her subordinates.
Kumba said her decision to form the committee followed calls by members of the house that the speaker dons a gown during the parliamentary business.
“Your concern is in place because in all the other parliaments we have visited within the region and beyond, indeed the speaker, clerk and the rest have a special outfit,” Speaker Kumba said. “So, I think it is high time we start thinking of designing the outfit for this particular category of people. We have to design our own to reflect our own national character.”
“So, I have formed a small committee to work on that, and then they will report to us on their proposed design of the gown for the speaker and the rest,” she added.
The clerk to the assembly, Makuc Makuc Ngong, said the speaker issued the order based on regulation 6 (4) of the TNLA Conduct of Business Regulation 2022.
“The order is for the formation of an ad-hoc committee to propose, draw a mace for TNLA, and specify and design a dignified uniform for the Rt. Hon. Speaker, Clerk, Legal Advisor, Sergeant-at-Arms, and the hall attendees,” he said.
The ad-hoc committee comprises six members headed by Hon. Mary Nawai Martin, the minister of parliamentary affairs, and Joseph Aleu as rapporteur.
The terms of reference of the ad-hoc committee include among others; identifying and designing a specific dignified uniform for the speaker in accordance with the best parliamentary practices and carrying out research on the color of the identified uniform that reflects the identity of the people of South Sudan.
The Committee was also tasked to propose the design of a mace for the assembly that will symbolize national identity.
The committee was also asked to seek or consult any information necessary for comparative designs, experience, and practice nationally, regionally, and internationally and revert to the speaker within two months.