Southern Sudan lawmakers today passed the long awaited 2010 GoSS budget in its third reading with the SPLA taking the lion’s share of the region’s meagre resources.
The 2010 Budget, which was tabled in October, covers expenses in the value of 4.5 billion Sudanese pounds, some 2.25 billion US dollars.Chairperson of the Economy, Finance and Development Committee in Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly, Professor Barri Wanji, told the press that the southern army is the top priority for GoSS because the SPLA also caters for internal security.
He added that the SPLA has been quite active to strengthen security in the South and now the soldiers receive their salaries regularly.
Professor Wanji explained that the SPLA got 40 percent of the budget because without the army, the enemy can easily scatter whatever has been put in place.
Other major sectors covered by the 2010 GoSS Budget are wildlife, agriculture, animal production and education.