The National Legislative Assembly today passed the Public Financial Management and Accountability Bill 2011, a key piece of legislation that lays down concrete procedures to control the management of oil and non-oil money in South Sudan.
This move comes weeks after the auditor general tabled the 2005-2006 audit reports that revealed an appalling mismanagement of hundreds of million of dollars during the first two years of the interim period.Henry Omai Akolawin, deputy chairperson of the economy, development and finance committee at the Assembly, tabled the bill in the House. He told CRN News the law marks the beginning of good governance in South Sudan.
He said it defines who is accountable to whom in each government institution and agency while empowering the work of the Audit Chamber.
Mr. Omai pointed out that the bill applies only to public spending agencies.
The bill qualifies undersecretaries in the national ministries and director generals in state ministries as accounting officials.
Joy Kwaje Eluzai, a MP from Central Equatoria, said the bill sets the new nation in the right track for a more organised and transparent financial system.
An opposition figure who asked to remain anonymous said the bill will remain ineffective if it is not fully implemented.
The Public Financial Management and Accountability Bill is among the five key pieces of legislation President Salva Kiir Mayardit asked the parliament to approve during its first 100 days of work.