MPs in Yei have voted against a move by the national government to enforce the implementation of the SSD number plates across the country.
In their sitting last week, the parliamentarians said the decision taken by the national government violates the country’s contribution.
According to the state constitution of the defunct Central Equatoria, the state has an autonomous mandate to produce and issue its own licenses and number plates.
Maka Mustafa, chairperson of the parliamentary committee for legal affairs in Yei, said they will produce and launch their own number plates. Maka urged the national government to respect the state constitution and its powers.
Daniel Lokoroto, chairperson of the parliamentary committee for economic affairs, said the state government has the right to produce its own number plates so as to generate revenue for the state government.
The state lawmakers stressed that the number plates sent to Yei town by the national government will not be allowed to circulate in the state.
“We will not allow our own citizens to be harassed by their own government because of wrong policies in this country. 60% of the collected revenue will be for the state and we will send 40% of the revenue to the national government,” the lawmakers said.