Professor Abednego Akok, the Chairperson of the National Elections Commission speaks to Eye Radio. (Photo: Awan Moses/Eye Radio).

The National Elections Commission says the government has recommended that the body  reduce its proposed budget of over 250 billion pounds by 40 percent

Early this month, the commission’s chairperson Professor Abednego Akok, presented to the government a proposed budget to facilitate its activities including visiting the states and administrative areas

Some of amount from the budget will be used to restructure the state offices and embark on nationwide civic education.

According to Professor Akok, the commission will use some amount to clear rent arrears for the past three years.

Speaking to Eye Radio yesterday, he said the Cabinet Affairs Minister told the institution to reduce the budget by 40 percent, but the commission suggested a 17 percent reduction.

“We have presented to the government the budget for elections, but two days ago (Monday) they returned it to us with the recommendation that it must be reduced by 40 percent.

“We sat down to implement their request. We came down to reduce it by 17 percent and we are waiting for them to call us during the budget presentation.

“We are serious that this budget should be approved for us and to be paid through consolidated funds. This is what will make us do the job without worrying.

“You have now seen there is no electricity now in the headquarters here. In the commission, we need to settle the rent of the building and we have about three years we have not paid anything.”

Only 11 months are left for South Sudan to go for its first ever post-independence general elections amid skepticism over slow implementation of critical provisions of the 2018 peace.