Parties faulted for delaying formation of parliamentary committees

The Speaker of Reconstituted Transitional National Legislative Assembly Jemma Nunu Kumba has said the delay in the formation of parliamentary committees has caused the dragging of businesses in the legislature. 

She said the upper house could have done tremendous work if some parties would not have failed to hand over the list of their nominees for the positions in the parliament.

Nunu was speaking during the centenary celebration of the Lui Diocese of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan in Mundri County, Western Equatoria State on Monday.

“We have not been moving expected. We could have done more than where we are as MPs. But again, the house could not make some decisions without parliamentary committees,” she stated.

The Speaker said the committees in parliament were key, adding that they are often formed according to their capacities. She said it is the committees that make the work of the MPs easier

However, Nunu said her administration was doing all that it can to make sure that most things that are waiting for them to be discussed are passed.

” We need the committees which will be headed by chairpersons. We hope the parties that are delaying us will do something before next year.”

“As everyone knows, this government is unity government, and everything is done in consultations and according to the agreement. So, if there is disagreement, it must be addressed before moving on,’’ she said.

However, she was optimistic about the formation of the committees that would take place very soon to move things faster.

Nunu, who hails from the ruling SPLM party, did not specify which group have not handed over their lists as she did not mention any party.

On the state assembly, the national speaker said the government was working hard to swear in the state legislators to start their work.

Plan to swear

She also called on communities the WES to embrace peaceful co-existence among themselves as the only means to roll out development.

Earlier this month, the First Vice President Dr Riek Machar Teny told to his party members that they were not responsible for any delay in the formation of parliamentary committees or state assemblies.

“We have given the list of members that will fill the positions in parliamentary committees. We have also nominated and given out lists of our honourable members that will be appointed as state MPs.

“So all the delays are not from our side, but we hope other parties will do the same so that we move forward with implementation,” Dr Machar told to his party members during their one-day National Liberation Council meeting in Juba.