Legislators show sign of relief after President Kiir’s statement on suspending oil production last Monday [©Gurtong]
By Waakhe Simon Wudu
JUBA, 25th January 2012 [Gurtong] - During a joint sitting involving the South Sudan National Assembly, (SSNA) together with the Council of States yesterday, the legislators endorsed the statement by President Salva Kiir on the decision to halt oil production in the country.
During the three hour-debate in the August House, the MPs underscored the President’s decision, supported by the Council of Ministers and approved it last Friday prompting the authorization of the oil Companies in South Sudan to close their operations.
The parliamentarians proposed several resolutions during the sitting.
In separate report presented by the South Sudanese Petroleum and Mining Minister Hon. Stephen Dhieu Dauto, the Executive had earlier on approved 2.6bilion US Dollars to be offered to Khartoum in the name of re-creating good ties since it was predicted that the State would be compromised economically prior to the South Sudan secession last year.
This 2.6 Billion USD was an offer on top of the 5.6 Billion US Dollars South Sudan had allegedly implicated Khartoum to have earlier on looted from her. However, parliamentarians stormed the Executive decision, accusing them of risking South Sudan resources.
“We need to support the decision of our President and our government. We cannot allow again our oil to be stolen,” the outspoken and former government Chief whip Hon. Bashir Gbandi from Meridi, Western Equatoria State said.
“I disagree completely with my government to approve 2.6 Billion US Dollars to Khartoum for the sake of peace. We can use this money for buying military equipments to defend this nation,” he added.
Meanwhile, Hon. Lino Wuor Abyei from Jonglei State criticized the move. “Why are you (the Executive) taking this nation into your hands to make friendship with Khartoum?”
“Since South Sudan has halted oil production which is the main government revenue, government officials must stop spending too much money on non-prioritized issues,” Hon. Wuor said..
“There should be nothing like the President’s bloated entourage of 40 to 30 people while accompanying him to functions, these large allowances must stop,” she added.
Other MPs accused China for supporting Khartoum in stealing the South Sudan’s oil; they recommended tough measures to be taken by the August House against Khartoum’s accomplices on the matter.
Meanwhile, the South Sudanese Finance Minister Hon. Kosti Manibe Ngai told the House that in three weeks time, his Ministry will present an austerity budget objectively to make the country survive amid the expected wide economic challenges and high inflation rates.
Meanwhile, Hon. Onyoti Adigo Nyikwac the leader of opposition in SSLA appreciated the President and the Executive on the decision, he however cautioned the ruling party (SPLM) to resolve issues in a sober mood. “We should not be carried away by our emotions but base our decisions on facts,” Onyoti said.
Hon. Grace Abalang later proposed a motion that terminated the debate, approved the President’s decision and recommended the formation of a select committee to come up with concrete resolutions on the President’s statement.
The House Speaker Hon. James Wani Igga directed the selected committee members to urgently work on the statement and present its work soonest possible to the House.