By Bosco Bush
A Member of Parliament from Lakes State in the National Assembly has raised serious allegations against individuals within the Ministry of Information, Telecommunication, and Postal Services for misappropriating public funds.
MP Bol Joseph Agau who presented an oral motion during Monday’s ordinary sitting, claims to have evidence of the Ministry in question squandering over $100,000.
According to Agau, a written request from the executive director was sent to the undersecretary of the Ministry, asking for the release of $125,000 intended for the funeral expenses of the late daughter of the Minister of Information.
“The executive director in the office of the Minister of Information Telecommunication and Postal Services, addressed a letter to the undersecretary of the ministry requesting One Hundred and Twenty-Five Thousand (125,000) U.S. Dollars to pay for the funeral rights and burial of the daughter of the Minister of Information,” he said.
“This money was approved the same day and it was paid by the South Sudan International Gateway, a subsidiary body that generates revenue for the country,” Agau explained.
MP Agau further claims that a land portion of the ministry has been illegally leased in the interest of some individuals in the ministry.
“Not only that, I have a lot of evidence including the land of the government being hired out and the money goes to individuals within the Ministry of Information Telecommunication and Postal Service,” he said.
The Ministry of Information is yet to respond to the allegations.
However, in response to the matter, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Jemma Nunu Kumba advised the lawmaker to follow the right procedures and put the motion in writing before presenting it in the next sitting.
This issue came in a time when civil servants across the country have not been paid for over 10 months.