CES to wait longer for MPs swearing-in

There is no sign indicating that the Central State Equatoria legislators will be sworn in anytime soon.

It has been over two months since President Salva Kiir appointed the state legislators. But according to the Central Equatoria State Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Taban Emmanuel Baya, so far, no plans are in place to guarantee the oath.

Last November, President Salva Kiir appointed the state Members of Parliament, a development that came at a time when Governor Emmanuel Adil Anthony also reconstituted the Juba City Council legislative assembly. But the members of the two houses will have to wait longer for the inauguration.

In an interview with The City Review yesterday, Taban said the swearing-in of the state legislators could likely be delayed further because the president and the governor are the ones to arrange for it.

“The swearing-in of the lawmakers is the duty of the President and Governor who appointed them. For whatever reason, we cannot speculate. We don’t know. Let us wait for the top authorities, ” Taban said.

Lawmakers making progress

However, he said the presence of lawmakers is very important to ease the government’s work in terms of supervision.

The Juba City Council Legislative Assembly and the state parliament are equally important for supervising the work of the executives and amending the by-laws of the city council. The state legislators also supervise the work of the executives, including the summoning of the state ministers.

However, the Mayor of Juba City Council, Michael Allah-Jabu, said his office required the legislators’ presence to enforce the laws that will guide the executives and residents of Juba City.

He said his office is working in coordination with the governor and the minister of local government and law enforcement to come up with procedures to make sure that the day for the swearing-in for the legislators is fixed.

“Once we have agreed, we shall come up with a final decision on how we can fix the day for the swearing of the honourable members of the Juba City Council Legislative Assembly because, as mayor, I also need their presence,” he said.

In June 2021, the legislators, doubling up as the quarter councillors of Juba City Council, created an awareness campaign to sensitise the Juba residents about the town rate and by-laws that were amended in 2020.

The town rate is the annual payment for the delivery of services by the residents.

According to the councillors, the residents of Juba town are not aware of the town rate and some by-laws guiding them in the residential areas.