By Bida Elly David
Members of parliament at the reconstituted national legislative assembly (R-TNLA) have been promised to pocket at least one month’s sitting allowance, by the house speaker, Jemma Nunu Kumba, seemingly silencing the on-going impeachment threats against her from within the parliament.
The news development announced to the lawmakers by the speaker in yesterday’s sitting seemed to be a quelling force to the ascending voices from the parliament especially from those calling themselves young parliamentarians agitating for Nunu’s leadership vote of no confidence.
Despite the continuous impeachment alarms sounded by some lawmakers, speaker Nunu said that the allowances for the lawmakers will be paid next week as the finance committee still follows up their balance of medical allowance with the finance ministry to be cashed into the account.
“Your balance for medical money is still being followed up by the ministry of finance, the clerk and the chairperson of the finance committee. One month’s seating allowance came and you were at recess and now that you have come, the seating allowance is going to be paid to you this week since you are already sitting,” Nunu assured.
The speaker however slammed the lawmakers against making excuses as means to boycott sitting noting that only regular parliamentarians will be in position to receive the allowances based on the interval of punctuality and attendance.
However, Nunu failed to reveal the amount that each lawmaker shall walk out with as far as the sitting allowance will be concerned.
She also criticized parliamentarians of being adamant towards questioning ministers pertaining their outfit allowances as well as hanging projects that can move the Country ahead urging them to summon the executive for clarification.
Speaker Nunu further challenged them (lawmakers) to summon the minister of finance to answer questions on why release of parliamentary finances is severally being withheld.
“We were told by the minister of finance that our allowances will come but now we are still waiting for them to transfer this money to us but up to now it is not yet transferred. MPs need to invite ministers for question sessions in the august house,” she intrigued.
Nunu in a separate development also underscored that Indian government has voluntarily demonstrated will to aid South Sudan parliament in developing a permanent constitution for the Country.
She said that India as a democratic Country in the world through its parliament has not only vowed to help South Sudan develop its constitution but also promised to modify South Sudan Assembly to meet international standard.
She also slammed some lawmakers against critics on the latest modification of the parliament without notifying the august house saying that the new look of the parliament was communicated before execution.
The question on the permanent constitution in regards to intervention of India remains unclarified by Nunu whether the law-makers can’t be able to formulate it according to the norms of the Country.
Speaker Nunu called on parliamentarians to continue attending sittings since the august house is in a hectic moment of deliberating pending bills that will be referred from the executive.
On his part, John Agany who spoke to journalists after the sitting noted that India is not going to completely involve in the permanent constitutional making but to adjust it to meet international level.
“We are capable of making our laws in South Sudan but how do we compare it with our neighbors so that we are not seen as human rights violators. India is just helping us in comparing what we have whether it will meet international standard,” Agany said.
On the question of national election bills and political acts being delayed, Agany said that the parliament should not be blamed over delays of these crucial bills noting that they discuss and deliberate on what is passed from the executive for final approval with the presidency.