By Hou Akot Hou
Northern Bahr El Ghazal State governor, Tong Aken Ngor urges the members of the state legislative assembly to enact laws that preserve the natural forests.
Aken made the call while addressing the state members of parliament on Wednesday during the reopening of the state parliament after recess.
The inaugural session of the house saw most of the state government cabinet, including advisors, converge on the house.
In his keynote policy remarks, Governor Aken urged lawmakers to pass legislation that would prevent citizens from cutting down trees at random.
“We have planted 1 million trees recently, and I have instructed the Ministry of Agriculture that is liaising with the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) to plant trees to contribute to the attraction of rainfall,” he said.
The governor’s call comes in the wake of climatic change which has been causing erratic conditions making food production insufficient in the state and the region at large.
Mr. Aken further urged the parliamentarians to cooperate among themselves despite the political camps they come from and work towards achieving one goal: service delivery.
He also outlined a number of strategies his administration has taken to deliver services and developmental aspects, such as the installation of telecommunication networks in the counties of Majok-Yithiou, Malith-Alek-Yai, Warguet, and Awoda.
Akeen also said that the state government is working on a number of developmental plans in the state.
On her part, the Speaker of the Northern Bahr El Gazal State, Ms. Achol William Amuoi, appeals to the cabinet, particularly ministers, to share their policies with the assembly.
“Hon. Governor, kindly work with your executive members so that they present their ministerial policies with us to pave the way for us to deliberate over their plans and see how they can be enacted as frameworks on developmental aspects and service giving,” she appealed.
Northern Bahr El Ghazal state’s assembly has been off from operation for more than three months.