By Yiep Joseph
South Sudan government has called on the views of the public to be incorporated in the drafted 2025-2026/ National Budget.
Although the budget is still being drafting by the concern committees of Finance and Planning before it is table in Parliament in July, the government has advanced a call for public views.
The government call for public views was extended through the Civil society organizations closely monitoring the drafting of the National Budget.
Speaking to the media, Civil society Activist, Edmund, the Executive Director for Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) called on Members of the public to express their views on the 2025/2026 budget.
Yakani revealed that the parliamentary committee on Finance and Planning has requested the nee for public to express their views to ensure inclusive budget for the country.
He expressed that members of the public are expected to give their opinions and views so that they can be incorporated into the final draft.
Although the Budget is still at the early stage where it is being drafted by Budget Committee in Ministry of Finance and the Parliamentary committee on Finance and planning Yakani expressed it is good for public to give their opinions.
“I would like to take this opportunity to ask Citizens who want to make an observation or want to raise their opinions on the content of our financial year 2025-2026” Yakani said
“We have the copies in our office come and submit to us your opinion as a citizen on the financial year bill 2025-2026 and we shall compile it and present it during public hearing” he appealed
He added that such views will be use by the civil society during the public hearing of the budget expected to be organized by the parliament so soon.
While the South Sudan government is closing down the 2024-2025 budget in July (Next month), public has been urged to express views on how best the 2025-2026 budget will look like.
In November 2024, South Sudan Parliament approved 4.2 trillion South Sudan pounds as National Budget for 2024/2025.
Although many questions remain unanswered regarding how the 2024-2025 National Budget was spent, the Budget Drafting committee at Ministry of Finance and Planning as well as parliamentary committee on Finance have started drafting the new budget for 2025-2026.
In order to incorporate public views in the Budget for 2025/2026 expected to be discuss in parliament this month (June), South Sudan government opened up to the Civil Society to engage the public to express their views.
The public views would have the Budget drafting committee on how best the country can have 2025-2026 budget.