President Salva Kiir during the meeting with leaders from various economic institutions - Credit: Office of the President March 4, 2024

A national lawmaker has called on the President to quickly intervene and alleviate the current inflation by directing the parliament to pass a budget for importing subsidized goods into the country.

Honorable Paul Baba, the Deputy Chairperson for the Specialized Committee on Trade and Industry, said the government should immediately allocate fund for the purchase of essential commodities.

Mr. Baba said the imported goods should be distributed to the states and administrative areas and sold at cheaper price to the common people.

He said while South Sudan must prioritize agriculture and production in the long run, the country needs a short-term solution to the current economic crisis.

Speaking to Eye Radio’s Sundown Show on Monday, Baba called on President Kiir to summon an extraordinary parliament session to pass a budget for the import subsidies.

“The government should locate fund to make sure these commodities are purchased from the manufacturers or producers of the commodities and delivered to various states in the country,” he said.

“The President has the powers to call the parliament today and tomorrow, the parliament will be there, and supplementary budget will be convened, and it will be passed.”

On his part, Achier Manyuat John, Monetary Economist and Financial Analyst agreed with the lawmaker’s suggestion.

He also emphasized on the removal of illegal checkpoints to reduce the cost levied by the traders on the final consumers.

“If we want to solve or mitigate the current situation, the idea of intervention comes here. Intervention is a solution where the market has failed,” he said.

“When the market fails, the government come in and take different measures, either subsidy or kind of playing directly.”

“For example, the minister of trade can decide to buy things directly from foreign countries and sell them at subsidized price to lower the rice in the market.”

“Our government, especially the minister of finance, NRA and interior, should also remove the multiple checkpoints because these multiple checkpoints are adding the cost of carry inward.”