{"id":41721,"date":"2025-12-23T12:12:26","date_gmt":"2025-12-23T10:12:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onecitizendaily.com\/?p=41721"},"modified":"2025-12-23T12:12:26","modified_gmt":"2025-12-23T10:12:26","slug":"parliament-warns-of-systemic-neglect-after-lokabangs-passing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onecitizendaily.com\/index.php\/2025\/12\/23\/parliament-warns-of-systemic-neglect-after-lokabangs-passing\/","title":{"rendered":"Parliament Warns of Systemic Neglect After Lokabang\u2019s Passing"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Alan Clement<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

South Sudan\u2019s lawmakers mourning Hon. Rev. Scopas Taban Lokabang Namoi have warned that his death exposes systemic neglect of members\u2019 health and welfare, underscoring the worsening medical and economic conditions facing the nation.<\/p>\n

Foreign Affairs Committee Chairperson Joseph Malual used the solemn sitting to highlight MPs\u2019 welfare challenges, citing Lokabang\u2019s difficulty accessing treatment.<\/p>\n

He recalled how the late MP was denied a hospital bed and left struggling with mounting bills.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was not let a bed to sleep in, salaries are blank cheques, hospital costs keep going on,\u201d Malual told colleagues, adding that Parliament must stand with members in times of crisis.<\/p>\n

Malual went further, linking Lokabang\u2019s ordeal to the broader collapse of state institutions. He criticized the Ministry of Finance for issuing \u201cblank cheques\u201d and warned that even national leaders and war veterans are left without care.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnly the Ministry of Finance gives blank cheques. It is illegal, punishable by law yet it is done legally by the government,\u201d he said, lamenting that Parliament itself had failed to protect its members.<\/p>\n

Christian Fellowship chair Julius Moilinga echoed the call, urging that health be prioritized above politics. He recalled Lokabang\u2019s role in founding the fellowship and bringing prayer into the House.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlease let the priority be for our health. We don\u2019t want to have giants like this; when they fall,\u201d Moilinga said, describing Lokabang as \u201ca liberator, an intellectual, a passionate person, a servant of God, a visionary church leader and a colleague.\u201d<\/p>\n

Deputy Speaker Parmena Awerial Aluong cautioned against politicizing funerals but acknowledged Lokabang\u2019s influence in bridging faith and governance. He also lamented the decline in MPs\u2019 welfare, noting that legislators once received their salaries in dollars but now face irregular payments and mounting financial strain.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe made people feel that Parliament is part of the church. Lokabang is someone everybody in this House respects,\u201d Aluong said.<\/p>\n

\u201cMembers of Parliament then were paid in dollars; salaries were in dollars. Later, it changed to pounds. Commissaries were also given in dollars. So, things are different now,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

First Deputy Speaker Ambrose Lomin Pitia offered words of comfort, framing the tragedy as a moment of unity. \u201cGo in peace and rest with the Lord\u2026 This tragic death has brought us together as members of Parliament.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lokabang\u2019s passing has sharpened debate on MPs\u2019 welfare, with colleagues pointing to unpaid salaries, escalating medical bills, and inadequate support systems. His case, they argued, reflects broader weaknesses in South Sudan\u2019s health sector, where even national leaders and war veterans struggle for care.<\/p>\n

The economic crisis marked by currency depreciation, inflation, and salary arrears has left many public servants vulnerable. Lawmakers themselves cited blank cheques, the erosion of benefits once pegged to foreign currency, and the collapse of welfare structures that once cushioned MPs.<\/p>\n

Beyond the chamber, Lokabang\u2019s dual identity as reverend and MP made him a distinctive figure in South Sudan\u2019s legislature. He was approachable, socially engaged, and spiritually anchored, often blending scripture with calls for accountability.<\/p>\n

His colleagues described him as humble, courageous, and committed to dialogue over division.<\/p>\n

Acting Government Chief Whip Ahmed Musa described Lokabang as a liberator who sacrificed his body for freedom and peace and pledged that Lokabang\u2019s vision would not be forgotten.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe promise to continue supporting the ideas and plans he worked for. We will work together to ensure his dreams for a better community and a stronger nation do not fade away.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Alan Clement South Sudan\u2019s lawmakers mourning Hon. Rev. Scopas Taban Lokabang Namoi have warned that his death exposes systemic neglect of members\u2019 health and welfare, underscoring the worsening medical and economic conditions facing the nation. Foreign Affairs Committee Chairperson Joseph Malual used the solemn sitting to highlight MPs\u2019 welfare[Read More…]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[80,79],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-41721","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-national","category-news"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onecitizendaily.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41721","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onecitizendaily.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onecitizendaily.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onecitizendaily.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onecitizendaily.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41721"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.onecitizendaily.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41721\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41722,"href":"https:\/\/www.onecitizendaily.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41721\/revisions\/41722"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onecitizendaily.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41721"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onecitizendaily.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41721"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onecitizendaily.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41721"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}