By Alan Clement
The Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) on Wednesday unanimously adjourned a sitting after most Ministers failed to show up.
The yesterday’s sitting was meant to discuss President Salva Kiir’s speech during the opening of the house last month.
According to the members of the parliament Ministers were expected to attend the sitting since it was deliberation on President’s speech that is more of policies.
The absence of Ministers prompted Elizabeth Adut, Member of Parliament (MP) from Northern Bahr el Ghazal to raise a point of procedure, citing parliamentary regulations that mandate ministerial attendance during such deliberations.
Adut retreated that despite an adequate quorum of lawmakers comprised of 285 members and 56 from the Council of States it was a must for Ministers to attend.
“We have 35 ministers in South Sudan but what we have here is the representation of only five ministries,” said Elizabeth Adut.
“With the importance of the president’s speech, I move that we adjourn the sitting and call for the rest of the ministers to attend,” she added.
Farouk Gatkuoth, Chief Whip of SPLM-IO, echoed the sentiment, warning against Parliament’s perceived passiveness.
“What has come out of the president’s speech are policies, and the implementation of those policies is not to be done by the August House; they are meant to be implemented by the executive. And if the executive is absent, let’s get to expose ourselves this time,” Gatkuoth said.
Deng Dau Deng however flagged procedural irregularities regarding the quorum and ministerial attendance seemingly explaining the absence of the ministers.
While addressing the Speaker of parliament, he said, “when you announced the quorum, it is attended as seen in Parliament today but there was no particular mention about the attendance of the ministers regarding this particular section.
He added that a consensus was reached in parliament where the Speaker gave a directive to one of the ministers to inform the other ministers to attended saying it is unprocedural and called for clearer communication from the Clerk’s office.
Minister of Environment, Josephine Naphon also reiterated the importance of ministerial presence, while the Speaker reminded that the president’s speech reflected reports from all ministries. “When parliament is discussing, it is in order that the ministers should be around to answer any questions,” she said, adding that their presence also showed
Minister of Environment Josephine Napon also reiterated the importance of ministerial presence, while the Speaker reminded that the president’s speech reflected reports from all ministries.
“When parliament is discussing, it is in order that the ministers should be around to answer any questions,” she said, adding that their presence also show respect for the president’s address and subsequently adjourned the presentation and deliberation on the president’s speech until a later date which will be communicated accordingly.
The Ministers of Livestock and Fisheries, Culture, Museums and National Heritage, Environment and Forestry, Public Service and Human Resource Development, and Deputy minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs were present in the parliament.