South Sudan's cabinet affairs minister Martin Elia Lomuro addresses a news conference on the South Sudan negotiations in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia June 22, 2018. (Reuters)

The Minister of Cabinet Affairs has revealed that the dispute between the executive and the legislative had led to a delay in approving the national budget for the fiscal year 2023-2024.

On Wednesday, August 9, the Speaker of the National Legislature, Jemma Nunu Kumba adjourned the third reading of the budget abruptly until further notice.

Dr Martin Elia Lomoro says that lawmakers demanded an increase of the salaries of civil servants by 1000% while the executive branch recommended a 400% increase.

He says this dispute has had direct implications on the timely approval of the national budget for the fiscal year 2023-2024.

According to the information provided, there seems to be a difference in opinions on the percentage increment for certain lawmakers.

However, Dr Elia states that the lawmakers of SPLM-IO and SOSA demanded a 1000% increment, while SPLM-IG and its allies recommended a 400% increment.

It is important to note that the dispute between the executive and legislative branches is not uncommon when it comes to budgetary matters.

Differences in priorities, perspectives, and political considerations often lead to such disagreements.

According to Dr Martin Elia, the lawmakers from SPLM-IO and SOSA deduction in the presidency, the Ministry of Presidential Affairs, Finance, Roads and other institutions within the ceiling budget.

While he says the SPLM-IG and its allies reject the deduction in those critical institutions citing the security and sovereignty of the nation.

He revealed the difference between the executive and legislative during the 31^st RJMEC monthly meeting in Juba.

“The Executive and RTNLA differ over the increase of civil servant and security sector salaries, and the executive wants salary increase to be cordial considering inadequate resources envelop subscribing a huge budget deficit while the parliament is for single step increase within the budget ceiling by making lager deduction on critical government’s institutions,” said Dr Martin Elia.

“More accurately rather the Executive recommended a 400% increase in salaries to the civil servant and the security sector the RTNLA objected and argued for the deduction from the budget allocation for security and sovereignty institutions including contingency, the Presidency, the Ministry of Presidential Affairs and other critical institutions and programs including the Ministry of Finance and Planning, Road and Peace in order to increase salaries of the civil servant and sector by 1000%.”

Dr Martin Elia further says the delay will likely affect the payment for earmarked organs of the agreement.

“The difference between the Executive and the RTNLA has now paralyzed the parties signatories to the agreement, the SPLM-IO and SOSA supporting the position of the parliament while the SPLM-IG and its allied parties support the position of the executive,” he said.

“With such difference is likely that the fiscal year 2023-2024 budget will be determined through democratic voting, till then the payment for earmarked the organs of the agreement shall remain outstanding.”