A Member of the National Legislative Assembly on Tuesday challenged ministers and presidency for budgeting against their 2010 election manifesto focusing on basic services delivery and infrastructure development.
Warrap State MP Kuon Deng Kuot questioned policy makers on their work plans drawn from government policy and SPLM party manifesto.
He cited the manifesto ‘Let all children go to school’, asking why education was under budgeted in 2014/2015 in violation of the manifesto and education acts.
MP Deng proposed 200 million South Sudanese Pounds lump sum budget for education to fulfill the 2010 election manifesto.
National Assembly’s Minority Leader Onyoti Adigo Nyikwech expressed worries on the appearance of 11 million South Sudanese Pounds arrears in the 2014/2015 National Budget, saying it reflects poor implementation of the previous budget.
He argued that any country that does not spend adequate resources on health and education cannot pretend to be heading to prosperity.
MP Adigo observed that allocating three percent for infrastructure confirms that development is the least priority in the budget.
Government Chief Whip Tulio Odongi Ayahu said the budget prioritizes peace and security because of massive loss of revenues due to war.
He argued that without peace, no development could be realized, revealing that government now relies on loans and little revenue collections.
The Assembly Economy, Development and Finance Committee observed that failure to develop socioeconomic infrastructure including roads continue to undermine the country’s economic progress.
The Committee unveiled that in the budget, expenditure far exceeds the incomes, highlighting overspending and over budgeting in the Office of the President, citing 26 million South Sudanese Pounds for vehicles.