The Minister of Finance on Tuesday presented 22.3 billion South Sudanese Pounds’ national budget to the parliament for the fiscal year 2016/2017.
Stephen Dhieu Dau says the budget has doubled the previous one due to inflation and currency devaluation.
The national budget comes too late, though with some reforms including increment of tax base and reduction of government expenditures, which Minister Dhieu describes as inevitable for development.
Deputy Finance Minister, Mary Jervas Yak, admits that the government has been spending without budget line since the first of July this year.
The presidency has been directing expenditures of the government in absence of the budget, she says.
The 2016/2017 budget prioritises the security sector giving it eleven billion and forty five million Pounds allocation out of 22.3 Billion Pounds.
But, the Ministry of Federal Affairs meant to advance federalism is underfunded with less than one percent in the proposed budget.
Dr Richard K. Mulla, the Minister of Federal Affairs describes the allocation as ‘unfortunate’.
Anthony Lino Makana, Speaker of the National Legislature referred the budget to specialized Committees of Economy and Legislation of the Assembly and Council of States for analysis.