By Bida Elly David
The transitional national legislative assembly adopted President Salva Kiir’s inaugural speech on Monday during the resumption of sittings after Christmas recess.
In Tuesday’s sitting that scrutinized the president’s policy statement, lawmakers analyzed and deliberated on the document with observations and recommendations.
Kiir’s speech, which was delivered in early April, upon the return of the lawmakers from recess, focused on the need for reforms in economic, agricultural, and developmental sectors.
The speech includes the need to improve infrastructure in regard to the construction of roads and bridges for interstate connectivity.
Furthermore, the head of state talked in his keynote speech about the timely release of civil servants and organized forces salaries to curb the economic catastrophe.
The speech also includes directives for the ministry of electricity on the connection of solar power to rescue citizens from the high cost of electricity.
Kiir also reiterated his directives to the ministry of general education and instructions to ensure free education for all South Sudanese children in public schools.
During the deliberations, the lawmakers commended President Kiir for his directives but blamed cabinet ministers from the executive arm of government for not living up to the tasks entrusted to them.
Machok Machok Majong, a lawmaker representing Warrap State under the SPLM ticket, applauded Kiir on his policy statement but still disagreed with the point directing the minister of energy and dams on solar power, saying it is too early.
“This is a little bit complicated and too early to come up with that conclusion about JEDCO being a monopolist and exploitive over expensive generators,” he said.
He suggested the need for that recommendation to be deleted for the sake of power supply.
Stephen Bol, another lawmaker representing Mayom County of Unity state under SPLM-IO, said in his reaction to Kiir’s directives on free education that his state is battling a lack of schools and qualified teachers to deliver quality education.
He said learners still undertake teaching under trees with zero services provided.
“The president made it very clear that our children must have free education, but Unity State, being an oil-producing state, has no schools; children are learning under the trees,” he said.
Stephen slammed the minister of general education for having claimed to have built schools for learners in the state, saying nothing has been done.
However, Awut Deng Acuil, the minister of general education, said in her response to Stephen that 10 schools have already been built in Unity State, with learners undertaking free education.
She trashed the nondurable’s accusation, saying it was totally false and invalid.
Mary Ayen Majok, the first deputy speaker of the Council of States representing Ruweng administrative area on the SPLM ticket, applauded Kiir for having prioritized reforms within the public sector, saying it is for the benefit of the citizens.
Meanwhile, Hon. Pasqual Bandidi, a lawmaker representing Western Equatoria State, appreciated the committee that scrutinized Kiir’s speech but embarked much on food security.
In Kiir’s speech on food security reforms, Pasqual said prioritizing agriculture without irrigation is wasted, adding that irrigation schemes should be considered paramount.
“I appreciate the address of the president of the republic since it captured crucial issues that have been troubling our country,” he underscored.
Rt. Hon. Jemma Nunu Kumba, the assembly speaker, commended the lawmakers for their contributions and said the speech has been passed into a policy document with all observations and recommendations.