Members of the Central Equatoria state Legislative Assembly are divided over discussions to pass a budget after some lawmakers demanded accountability for the previous financial budget.

That’s according to Wani Jackson, one of the lawmakers.

The disagreement emerged after the State Minister of Finance tabled the budget for the fiscal year 2022-2023 for scrutiny and deliberations last week.

The over 16 billion South Sudanese pounds was approved by the state cabinet last month.

The budget is meant to implement the six strategic development pillars of the state government.

These include peace and security stabilization, service delivery, and economic revival.

However, when the state minister of finance presented the draft budget in the August house in its first reading, it was received with mixed reactions by the lawmakers.

Some of the legislators demanded that the State Minister of Finance and Planning explain how last year’s budget was spent before tabling the budget in its second reading.

While others wanted the new budget to be passed and accountability for the previous year’s financial budget to be done later.

However, the MPs disagreed, prompting the speaker to suspend the sitting.

Wani Jackson, an MP in the state legislative Assembly explained to Eye Radio what happened.

“The honorable members who raised the questions demanded the tabling of the budget to the second readying to be postponed until the last budget was read,” Wani told Eye Radio.

“There was no financial detail budget for the financial year 2021-2022 but there was a summary part of it, and I think some of the members were not contented with the summary they wanted the complete detail of the budget chapter by chapter, ministry by ministry and institution by institution so that they give clear accountability I think this was the controversy in the house.”

The disagreement among the lawmakers has stalled sittings to deliberate the state budget for 2022-2023 for about two weeks now.

When contacted on the matter, the deputy spokesperson of the state assembly, says the budget delay is due to house procedures, but not the disagreement between the lawmakers.

Morris Andrea says the new budget will be tabled in parliament for the second reading next week.

“The budget was not read for the second reading, but for sure in the first reading, the expenditures were not involved. Then when you come on Monday you will get more and make sure you get all these things there,” said Hon. Morris.

“The budget has no problem, it is only the procedures as I mentioned, and it will be done.”