The speaker of the National Transitional Legislative Assembly, Rt.Hon. Jemma Nunu Kumba, said this year, completing the transitional period and holding elections are the top priorities.
She was speaking during the opening ceremony of the parliament after Christmas and the New Year’s Eve holiday.
The lower house that enacts laws in the nation is the reconstructed transitional national legislative assembly, which is the second branch of government after the executive and judicial branches.
Nunu Kumba stated, “There is no consensus from the parties to go for elections, so our priority this year is to finish the transitional period and engage executives towards elections.”
“As a parliament, we have a great responsibility to engage with the executive branch and educate them on the significance of elections in order to bring peace to this nation.”
In two weeks, parliamentary sessions will start, according to Nunu.
According to the 2018 peace agreement, the election in South Sudan is to be held 60 days before the end of the transitional period, which falls on December 22, this year.
“However, most of the provisions in the peace deal have not been implemented, including the pending bills before us, the completion of the security arrangement, the census, and the making of the permanent constitution, among other critical tasks,” Nunu added.
Oyet Nathaniel Pierino, the first deputy speaker of the National Transitional Legislative Assembly, praised the lawmakers for their accomplishments, including enacting a record number of measures.
“We also want to see the judiciary carrying out its mandates and delivering justice on the front pages of our newspaper,” he stated.
“The government has to handle the security issue with extreme caution to guarantee that all routes are feasible. This is one of the challenges.”
