Opinion: Articles 54 and 55 of the NSS Act: A Threat to Everyone in South Sudan

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  Deng Bol Aruai.  Top News: Breaking News: President Salva Kiir has dismissed the Commissioner General of National Revenue Authority, Hon. Africana Mande, and appointed Hon. Simon Akuei Deng as his replacement President Kiir Strengthens Ties: Receives Credentials from Six New Ambassadors Top Five (5) Best Performing Ministries In South Sudan SPLA-IO Faction Rejects New Western Bahr el Ghazal Governor Amid Leadership Dispute By Deng Bol Aruai Bol, South Sudan is in a strange and troubling place. It often feels like a theater where rumors, propaganda, and misinformation are produced, consumed, and then sometimes turned into law.  What starts as whispers on the street often becomes policy, leaving citizens questioning how such decisions come to pass. Articles 54 and 55 of the National Security Service (NSS) Act are the latest chapters in this unsettling narrative.  These provisions, which give the NSS sweeping powers to arrest, detain, monitor communications, and conduct searches without

EES SPLM-IO Lawmakers, demands the passing of State's budget and accountability.

EES Parliament 

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SPLM-IO Members of Parliament 'MPs' in Eastern Equatoria State 'EES', are demanding for swift resolutions to pressing matters which is expeditious passage of the 2023/2024 budget. 



The SPLM-IO MPs also, demanded the previous budget to be accounted for before they break for recess. 


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SPLM-IO lawmaker, Hon. Visor Likale Olum said that, he is frustrated about the current unresolved issues in the state's parliament. 


“Instead of sitting indoors, I was expecting the government to have an extraordinary sitting to finish those sensitive issues. One of them is the issue of the budget for 2023-2024. The second is the issue of the policy statement of the ministries for the 2023-2024 financial year. The third is the progressive report that we demanded,” Hon. Olum charged. 


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Hon. Olum further said that, they only finished reports for Magwi and Lafon, the other six counties are not done, the state is afraid to fund lawmakers extraordinary sittings which is very bad because these sittings are very important. 


“We did not finish the recess report from the counties. Except for Magwi and Lafon, the six counties are not done. Unfortunately, the state is afraid to fund legislators’ extraordinary sitting. That is very bad because these things are very important.” Hon. Olum said. 


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Hon. Olum further said that, he is not contented on how the issues of budgeting is being handled. 


“When we end up asking for progressive reports, ministers do not turn up and resolutions are not implemented and it seems the executive is taking over from the government,” Olum said. “They do not listen to what the parliament directs them to do or implement what parliament says.” Hon. Olum said. 


The -IO lawamkers, urges the EES governor to allocate funds for additional sittings so as the budgetary issues can be addressed. 


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SPLM-IO Chief Whip, Hon. Vitale Ofire Rafael said that, he is concerned about the non payment of the state's civil servants salary arrears from last year's budget amounting to SSP 750 Million. 


“There is rampant looting of state resources. Up to now, the state assembly does not know how much money is being collected monthly by the revenue authority, including from Personal Income Tax. All those are serving the personal interests of the commissioner of the revenue authority, who is the wife of the governor,” Hon. Vitale charged.


Hon. Vitale said that, State Minister of Finance, Governor and 15 Ministries, parliament and commissions had lost over SSP 3.8 Billion. 


“Under the state minister of finance and the governor, 15 ministries, the assembly, and commissions lost almost SSP 3.6 billion, including the 386 million SSP budget of the assembly, which has not been released by the minister of finance and the governor despite our request.” Hon. Vitale said. 


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Hon. James Natabu, one of the opposing lawmaker said that, the concerned do not appear in the EES parliament even when summoned. 


“We passed last year’s budget with only two months left and we allocated funds to activities of ministries. However, till now, we have not received the progressive report,” Hon. James Natabu said. 


“So the ministers are dodging us. When we summon them, ministers are dodging. It seems they have not received the budget which is why they are fearing.” Hon. James Natabu said. 


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