The Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) on Tuesday passed the National Bureau of Statistics Act 2018 (Amendment) Bill 2024 from the second reading to the third reading stage.
According to Suzan Thomas, the deputy chairperson of the Specialized Committee for Finance and Planning, the Bill was first tabled in 2015 by the late Paulino Wanawilla, the former Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, however, its second reading was delayed due to the need to review it as required by the peace agreement.
“In the second session, ordinary sitting N0. 8/2018, in 2018, the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, late Justice Paulino Wanawilla Honango, tabled this Bill before the other house,” she revealed. “The committee had initially deliberated on the Bill when it was tabled in 2015, but it was technically delayed, awaiting the outcome of the 2018 revitalized peace agreement which enforced new measures and the National Bureau of Statistics was one of the institutions to be reviewed.”
Thomas added: “The Bill was amended to conform to the peace agreement’s Article 1.19 Sub Article 1.19.17, and Article 193 of the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan 2011 as amended”
She further recommended that parliament deliberate and pass it.
“The committee analyzed the Bill in consultation with the Director General of the National Bureau of Statistics who made positive inputs,” the legislator stated. “The committee recommends to the August House to discuss its general features and pass this Bill.”
For his part, Oliver Mori, the spokesperson of the National Legislature, said the Bill is very important because it helps the country, especially regarding the population census, which is also related to the conduct of elections. He also highlighted that the same Bill can be used in determining constituency boundaries.
“This is very important to guide the country in regards to statistics because all planning in any nation is based on statistics,” he averred. “The country cannot move forward without the National Bureau of Statistics which has also got connections with registration for elections and demarcation of constituencies.”