By Ephraim Modi Duku Sokiri
National Transitional Committee (NTC) has presented an estimated 90 billion South Sudanese pounds as the budget for the unification of phase II of the unified forces.
Head of Secretariat of the NTC, Stephen Wiw Bitchiok, unveiled the budget estimate during the 29th plenary of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) in Juba yesterday.
Mr. Bitchiok explained that NTC has discussed and proposed the 90 billion SSP for graduation of the second batch and the unification of the command structure that’s still incomplete.
He underscored that the graduated forces are still in the training centers, adding, that should no longer be the responsibility of the National Transitional Committee.
“The drafted budget, however, shall be summited to the Ministry of Finance and Planning (MoFP) to present to the Transitional National Legislative Assembly for further scrutiny and be included for endorsement in the fiscal budget of 2023–2024,” Head of NTC Secretariat, said.
Mr. Bitchiok also stated that the NTC Secretary, who is also the National Minister of Peace Building, has presented a sum of 3.6 billion SSP to the economic and governance cluster and council of ministers for emergency food items to be procured for the forces in cantonment areas.
“The budget was discussed and passed for some adjustment, and the minister also presented the budget for the emergency food items in the council of ministers meeting shared by the president,” he said.
The cluster resolved that the council of ministers should deliberate and pass the 3.6 billion for emergency food and nonfood items, he added.
According to Mr. Bitchiok, the NTC is facilitating transportation of military uniforms and some items from Port Mombasa to Juba, as donated by the government of Turkey for the graduated forces.
He added that the company contracted to bring the uniforms has also started working on logistics to take food to the training centers and cantonment sites.
An additional 2.5 billion SSP has been submitted to the finance ministry for the preparedness of the security mechanism of the country, he added.
South Sudanese yearn for complete implementation of the peace roadmap which is expected to lead the country to transit into democracy.