FILE PHOTO: Jema Nunu Kumba, the Speaker of the R-TNLA at the 5th governors' forum in Juba - credit | Office of the First Vice President | Nov. 26, 2021

The speaker of the national legislature has told the lawmakers they will not go to recess until key bills related to the peace agreement are enacted.

Jemma Nunu Kuma was reacting to some MPs who wanted to know when they will take a break after months of ‘tireless’ work.

The discussion emerged after Samson Amule, a lawmaker representing Lainya County of Central Equatorial state raised the concern.

MP Amule argued that since they were sworn in last year, they did not visit their constituencies, and the leadership has never recognized that.

“Madam speaker, I am going to talk about our session in this parliament since we came to this house madam speaker this house has never recognized our recess to go to our communities,” Amule said during this week’s sitting.

“Now, we have passed the budget and we are not hearing anything about recess what is going on now,

“We are going for our second recess which is happening in December, and I am sure we shall still be kept in Juba.”

In response, speaker Jemma Nunu Kumba said President Salva Kiir directed her to continue with the sessions until important provisions of the extended peace roadmap are enacted.

“Yes, we could not go because we had to pass the budget now after passing the budget, we also know that the transitional period has been extended for another two years and there are very important provisions that have not been implemented like the permanent constitution making,” said Hon. Nunu.

“The bill that is before us today is very important for the people you represent here in this house. I am sure your people our people will not be happy if we go for recess without passing this very important bill,

“We are continuing without recess and have already consulted with His Excellency the president according to this regulation you have mentioned, and His Excellency has allowed us to proceed until we finish these important bills then now, we can go for recess.”

This week, the parliament re-tabled and passed two bills – the Constitution-Process Making bill and the Wildlife and Tourism Bill- awaiting the president to sign them into law.

Last month, the parliament passed a 1 point 4 trillion-South Sudanese pound in the fiscal budget which the President signed into law last week.