By William Madouk Garang
The Central Equatoria State transitional legislature yesterday passed the long-awaited state budget at the tune of SSP 16 billion for Fiscal Year 2022/2023.
On September, the state cabinet approved the draft budget after a presentation by the state Minister of Finance, Planning and Investment, Wani Tom Sebit at a tune of 16,069,361,867 South Sudanese Pounds.
Minister Sebit then tabled the draft budget that saw goods purchase and services allotted 42 percent, salaries with 32%, capital expenditure with 23%, and a transfer to counties with 3% before state parliament for appraisal.
Members of parliament on Monday approved in total the draft budget in its second reading to final with some amendments but without any adjustments on resource envelope grand total.
“I move to read a sub title of the bill which is ‘Republic of South Sudan – State Transitional legislative assembly Central Equatoria State (CES) – Juba “CES draft budget for fiscal year 2022/2023, October 2022” so congratulations for passing of this budget in totality with all its amendments,” the Speaker Peter Wani Kulang said.
Speaking to the media, the Deputy Chairperson of Specialized Committee for Information at the Assembly, Morris Andrea Lupe said the budget was passed, asserting that government is now ready to deliver services.
“In ordinary siting No. 32, CES reconstituted legislative assembly today passed the budget for 2022/23 in totality, the resource envelope for this budget is 16,069, 361, and 867 Pounds which is double to previous budget,” MP Lupe noted.
“With this the state government is set ready to develop its services and in delivering services to its people. This is the second budget that covers development strategy plans and the workforce which 23, 582,” he continued.
Lawmaker Lupe stated that the budget and the Appropriation bill will be submitted to the governor Emmanuel Adil to assent them into a law.
Finance minister Sebit said budget will apply for security stabilization, social services and justice delivery, economic recovery good neighborliness, return and reintegration management and keeping state safe, green and clean.
To him, increases in salaries and wages were due to inclusion of members of the state assembly, other political appointments and recruitments made in several institutions.
He also explained that use of goods and services amplified because of service delivery plans encircled in the fiscal year 2022/2023 draft budget.
The Minister projected state own revenues amounts to 10,993,897,005 SSP – the tax revenues will be at 694,342,720 SSP and non-tax revenues at 10,299,554,285 SSP.
Mr. Sebit noted that the increases in revenues was due to administrative reforms taken which include digitalization of tax collection, expansion of tax base, review and adjustment of tax rates.
As well as deployment of Revenue Authority staff to non-tax revenue collecting institutions such as ministries.