The Minister of Finance, Trade and investment in Western Bahr el Ghazal says the state 2014-2015 budget has been reduced by the national government.

This year’s budget allocation is based on population. WBGS has the least population, according to the 2008 census which puts it at about 333,431.

NBGS budget was reduced from 69 million to 61million pounds, which she says is not enough for delivering basic services.

Lilia Valentino Rizik says this deduction will affect service delivery in the State.

Madam Lilian Rizik says Western Bahr El-Ghazal State serves citizens from other four neighboring states.

“Western Bahr El-Ghazal State is not serving its own citizens alone but it serves the neighboring states as well as private schools full of children from the neighboring states and the Wau Teaching Hospital received per day nearly 100 cases,” she told Eye Radio’s Dawn program.

This fiscal year, populated states received bigger budgets: Central Equatoria State has 139 million Pounds, Eastern Equatoria State has 103 million Pounds, and Jonglei State has 130 million pounds.

Madam Rizik said the state revenues were centralized by the national government, the fact that she says contributes to lack of service delivery in the state.