Appointed members of the National parliament and Council of States taking oath at Freedom Hall in Juba. August 2, 2021. Credit| George Tandele/Eye Radio

The Speaker of the national parliament Jemma Nunu Kumba has applauded the Minister of Finance and Planning for the timely payment of lawmakers’ salaries and allowances.

Nunu said on Monday that Minister Dier Tong Ngor has catered for the MPs’ welfare by substantially increasing their salaries and sitting allowances.

She said the national lawmakers are also paid their medical allowances and recess money on time.

“In the previous session, the salaries and another emolument of honorable members and honorable MP’s welfare were catered for not only our salary substantial increase but the salaries are now paid on time and the seating allowances,” she said.

“In addition, all MP’s received half of their medical allowances as well as all the money they marked for the recess, the staff of the national legislature received a similar improvement. The current minister of finance must be commended for that very positive arrangements.”

But Juol Nhomngek, a member of the national parliament representing Cuibet County in the transitional national parliament has disagreed with the statement of Nunu Kumba.

“I have listened to the speech of Right Honorable Speaker, where she has touched on some of the genuine issues like passing of the laws, and there some issues which were not correctly made like the issue of the welfare of the members of the parliament which has never been well catered for,” Nhomngek told Eye Radio after the session.

“We were not even happy when we heard that the welfare of the members was taken care of. Because we would have not been investigated several times if the speaker is doing it the same way,” he added.

Nhomngek complained that the laws of the parliament have not been followed.

“The laws of the parliament have not been well followed, and these are the facts we need to tell the public. We must be honest enough to achieve peace in South Sudan, if we are not able to tell the world and the whole country what’s wrong, then we will not be able to go anywhere.”

The RTNLA is an essential forum for open debate and discussion, where MPs should be able to express their views freely on behalf of the people of South Sudan.

The RTNLA is also legally mandated to play an important role in the constitution-making process, legislate and provide services to the people of South Sudan.