Lake state lawmaker has raised an urgent matter of public concern over the delay in the tabling of the 2025–2026 national budget, calling on Parliament to summon the Minister of Finance for clarification.
During Wednesday’s parliamentary sitting (No. 4/2025) of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA), Hon. Sunday Philip Kot, who represents Yirol East County, expressed frustration over the absence of a national budget more than a month into the new fiscal year.
“Right Honorable Madam Speaker, according to Regulation 119, the financial year in South Sudan starts on July 1st and ends on June 30th of the following year. Yet we are now in August, and there has been no clarification from the Minister of Finance,” Hon. Kot said.
He emphasized that presenting the national budget should have been the Parliament’s top priority upon reopening last month, warning that the continued delay undermines fiscal accountability and disrupts government operations.
“I respectfully ask this August House to summon the Minister of Finance to come and explain the status of the 2025–2026 budget,” Philip submitted to the house.
In response, Speaker Rt. Hon. Jemma Nunu Kumba acknowledged the concern and assured the House that the matter would be taken up immediately.
“Yes, the budget has not yet come to us, and we are going to ask the Minister what is happening,” Speaker Nunu reacted to the concern raised.
The delay in presenting the national budget has sparked growing anxiety among lawmakers and citizens alike, as it affects government spending, salary payments, service delivery, and donor confidence.
It remains unclear why the Ministry of Finance has not yet presented the budget, which by law should have been approved before the beginning of the fiscal year in July. Parliament is now expected to press the Ministry for answers in the coming days.
