By Waakhe Simon Wudu
JUBA, 15th March, 2011 [Gurtong]- Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly-SSLA in its Ordinary Sitting No: 8/2011passed the third reading of the 2011 Financial Year budget of the Government of Southern Sudan-GOSS yesterday.

Chaired by the Right Honorable Speaker James Wani Igga, the budget was passed for the forth reading by the majority of 127 Members of Parliament and opposed by three Members who from the Opposition. 

“The budget bill 2011 is here passed for the forth reading and be submitted to the economy of finance in conjunction with the Committee of legal affairs,” Hon. Wani Igga ruled shortly after a motion to pass the budget was seconded by the majority members.

The economy of finance and legal affairs is expected to present the budget for forth reading to the House late today. This year’s budget was higher than last year with much resources being allocated to security.

Following critics from Honorable Members in the house about inadequacy of the allocated budget, the Committee Chairperson of Economy, Development and Finance stipulated and cautioned that, the 2011 South Sudan budget is purposely gearing its objective to cater for stability, improve service delivery and manage the South Sudan transitional government.

Many complains were raised by Members of Parliament -MPs and Ministers in the House following the cut down of other provisions to their Ministries in which the MPs had wanted to deliberate on longer.

However, following strong justifications raised by other Honorable members in the House on South Sudan’s situation in which insecurity is challenging, the region is having limited period for establishing its transitional government before July among other reasons, the House was pressured later on to pass the third reading of the budget at 1pm.