Hon. Changkuoth Bichiok, the Chairperson of the Finance Committee during the second reading of 2023/2024 budget - COURTESY

The Chairperson of the Finance Committee at the National Parliament said the National Ministry of Finance and Planning will submit a supplementary budget in early February.

Changkuoth Bichiok Reth said the supplementary budget is ready and only waiting to be passed by the Cabinet before it the parliament for deliberations.

He added that the supplementary budget will enable key institutions like the National Election Commission and Political Parties Council to start their work.

“Early next month, the Minister will present the supplementary budget on the National Election Commission because the country wants to go for election,” Bichiok said on Eye Radio’s Sundown Show on Thursday.

“According to the agreement, now they (electoral institutions) are functional bodies so now they have made their budgets, and the parliament is waiting because we have also asked the Minister and he is ready.”

The Ministry of Finance and Planning has struggled to pay the salary arrears of civil servants as well as members of the organized force, who have gone through five months without receiving their dues.

In early December 2023, First Deputy Speaker Oyet Nathaniel said government programs are likely to be affected in 2024, should the Minister of Finance and Planning fail to table a supplementary budget in time.

The national parliament then went on recess without passing the additional budget, prompting a civil society activist to voice disappointment over the issue.