The 130 million pound Independence Day celebrations budget is too much, the People’s Liberal Party has said.

The Council of Ministers approved the budget last Friday to reconstruct the Dr John Garang Mausoleum and fund the celebrations in the ten states, Abyei and Pibor.

The PLP chairman, Peter Mayen, says part of this money should be spent on improving infrastructures such as roads, schools and hospitals.

Mr Mayen told Eye Radio earlier that reconstruction of the mausoleum is not a priority.

“The money is too much; it’s a huge amount of money that should not be spent on a single event of a day,” Mr Mayen argued. “The money can be spent on road construction and hospital.”

Mr. Mayen says part of the money could also be used to address the strike of lecturers in the public universities.