Entrance of national parliament/ Photo by Lou Nelson/13.04.2023

The national legislative assembly has inaugurated the partial renovation of the August house estimated to cost 5 million US dollars.

The renovation project started in 2018 when Anthony Lino Makana, an SPLM member was appointed by President Kiir in 2016 as the Speaker.

But the senior SPLM official was forced to resign by his party members after they allegedly accused him of embezzling 400 million dollars.

Makana was replaced by Obuch Ojwok Akuot who served not until the parliament was reconstituted in 2021.

Last year in August, President Kiir appointed Nunu Kumba as the Speaker, a position allocated to the SPLM through the 2018 peace agreement.

Months later, the incumbent speaker reembarked on the project as one of her top priorities to improve the working and welfare of the parliamentarians.

But until now, the renovation is incomplete despite the parliament installing a security gate and refurbishing offices of the chairpersons and deputies of the specialized committees.

With the whole renovation expected to complete in the next two months, the expanded legislature with over 600 members of the upper and lower houses, will still have to continue conducting sittings at the Freedom Hall.

When asked why the renovation of the building has taken too long and the cost of the project, Maana Makuc, the assembly clerk cited the economic crisis.

“Obviously, with the economic situation of our country, we could not be able to pay our contractors on time and that is why all the projects delayed,” he said.

According to the Makuc, President Kiir’s intervention enabled the completion of the gates and the renovation of the offices.

“By the support of H.E the President, the work immediately kicked off and that is why we have finished this gate on time and other small projects,” he added.