The South Sudan National Assembly has approved the fiscal year budget of SSP2 trillion in its third reading stage for the year 2023/2024.
The budget which includes increments in salaries and wages of civil servants and organized forces was passed despite the walkout protest by SPLM-IO legislators.
The Opposition lawmakers stage the protest after their demands to push for a higher salary increment for civil servants and organized forces from 400 percent to 600 percent were nullified.
Following the approval of the budget, Speaker of the National Assembly Jemma Nunu Kumba announced that the Minister of Finance will table a supplementary budget in the next five months.
“We are all concerned about our people, our public servants, and our organized forces, that is why we are passing this budget with an increment of 400 percent. The minister of finance will present a supplementary budget within five months to the August House for an additional increment of salaries of civil servants, army, and all organized forces,” the Speaker stated.
This supplementary budget aims to implement a 600% salary increment for civil servants, as demanded by the SPLM-IO MPs.
The South Sudan’s Finance Minister, Bak Barnaba Chol says his ministry will concentrate on controlling the foreign exchange rate of the South Sudanese Pounds relative to the US dollar as an effort to limit the market’s skyrocketing prices.
“We are already working on a long-term program that will boost our people’s living standard and alleviate the poverty level. We will focus on many sectors, including agriculture, mining, and infrastructure. And we are even working on manufacturing plans for our country,” he added.
Minister Bak further assured the public of their long-term program that will boost the living standard of the citizens and alleviate the poverty level.