By Alan Clement
The government of Central Equatoria State (CES) has expressed concern over continued encroachments into its constitutional mandate by certain institutions of the national government.
In a statement, the Acting State Minister of Information, Jacob Aligo Lo-Lado, revealed that Governor Rabi Mujung, received a detailed report from a committee he constituted last week to investigate cases of constitutional encroachment and breaches of intergovernmental linkages.
According to Aligo, the committee presented cases of encroachment into the constitutional mandates of Central Equatoria State by some national institutions.
“The report also outlined violations of intergovernmental linkages, which are vital under our decentralization system of governance,” he said.
He said according to the constitution of South Sudan, the basis of governance is decentralization where the three levels of government have intergovernmental linkages that are supposed to be respected by all government levels.
“Unfortunately, in Central Equatoria, there are serious violations where sometimes institutions from the national government could come and bypass the state and go and carry out activities at the lower level whereas in the principle of intergovernmental linkages, such activities are done through the consent of the state,” Aligo said.
He stressed that while the CES government respects the national constitution and rule of law, violations regardless of the level of government must be addressed saying the CES government respects the rule of law and the national constitution.
“But when this constitution is violated no matter by which level of government, we have the right to speak out and act within the arm beats of the law.” He said.
The Minister confirmed that, governor Mujung and the investigating committee will present the report to the Governance Cluster at the national level to initiate dialogue and seek redress.
“What the public is saying about the violations that the CES government is facing are real issues,” Aligo said. “And we need to use dialogue and constructive engagements with our national government so that we put this matter to rest,’ he emphasized.
Last month, the Central Equatoria State (CES) Government rejected a move by the South Sudan Revenue Authority (SSRA) to divide Juba into operational zones for taxpayer registration, citing constitutional overreach and lack of consultation.
On Wednesday, the South Sudan Revenue Authority said it began zoning Juba City into ten areas for a new taxpayer registration campaign aimed at boosting revenue collection and improving tax compliance.
According to Simon Akuei Deng, the Commissioner General of the Revenue Authority, the exercise involved door-to-door registration of all businesses, service providers, and self-employed individuals across the capital.
However, in a press briefing following a state council of ministers meeting, Acting Minister of Information and Communication, Jacob Aligo Lo-Lado, told journalists that the Council had unanimously resolved to oppose the SSRA’s zoning plan, which includes a door-to-door taxpayer registration campaign targeting businesses, service providers, and self-employed individuals across the capital.