Members of the national parliament (Photo by - / AFP)

A civil society activist said he is disappointed over the delayed tabling of a supplementary budget for the fiscal year 2023/2024 before the national parliament by the Minister of Finance and Planning.

Edmond Yakani – Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization said a supplementary budget is critical for peace implementation and the increment of civil servant’s salaries by 600 percent.

“I would like to take this opportunity to express disappointment in the delay of enactment of a supplementary budget for the country,” he told Eye Radio.

“We are aware that during the enactment of the national budget for the financial year 2023/2024, during the public hearing in the parliament, we raised a concern around the allocation of funding for the electoral process.”

In August 2023, the national parliament passed the 2.2 trillion pounds fiscal year 2023/2024 budget with a 400 percent salary increment for civil servants and organized forces.

The fiscal year budget was passed in consideration of the 400 percent salary increment which was recommended by the cabinet amid a rift over the proposed percentage of increment.

Finance Minister Dr. Bak Barnaba Chol had promised a supplementary budget to increase the salaries and wages of the civil servants and the organized forces to the proposed 600, after five months.

However, it is now more than four months and August is heading for recess, which will last until January 2024.

Yakani described the delay in the tabling of the supplementary budget as “a clear demonstration of lack of political will” from the Ministry of Finance.

“Honorable minister of finance promised the parliament that the funding for elections will be reflected during the supplementary budget.”

‘Today is 14^th December and we are away, and soon our parliament is breaking for recess without any supplementary budget, this is a serious disappointment for us as South Sudanese, for us as activists.”

“But at the same time, it is a clear demonstration of lack of political will from some of the organs of the government such as the ministry of finance.”

Activist Yakani further called on President Salva Kiir to call off the recess of parliament and direct the finance minister to table the supplementary budget.

“Before the parliament breaks for recess, the honorable minister of finance needs to present the supplementary budget and if it is possible, I would hope that His Excellency President should call the recess off until the parliament enacts a supplementary budget.”

Last week, the first deputy speaker of the national parliament said government programs are likely to be affected next year, should the minister of finance and planning fail to table a supplementary budget this month.

Oyet Nathaniel said this is as the parliament is likely to go on recess this month, adding that the supplementary budget is critical before the country can go for elections.

He said if the supplementary budget is not tabled this year, the conduct of the permanent constitution-making process, population census, and subsequently elections may not take place.