Reply of the Minority Leader to the opening session of the National Legislature Monday April 20, 2015.

Rt. Hon. Speaker Sir,

Hon. Members,

Allow me to refer to Article 71 (2) b of the transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan, 2011, read together with section 9 (sub- section 1 and 2) of the Conduct of Business Regulations of the National Legislature, 2013 on the speech of H. E. the President of the Republic of South Sudan during the opening of the first session of the National Legislature, April 20^th 2015. Also let me avail myself to solute you and Hon. Members after returning from your recess full of energy to start your functions as representatives of the people.

First of all, let me seize this opportunity to thank H.E. the President of the Republic of South Sudan for his address to the Nation and the world at large through this august House and declaring the National Legislature open.

Rt. Hon. Speaker,

Hon. Members,

H. E. the President in his speech commended the National Legislature for amending our Constitution in order to extend the tenure of the government for three years and asked a question what the people who opposed the amended want when they also opposed the running of election last time. We want to clarity this issue to all the people of South Sudan that we only opposed the process of amending our Constitution which did not include all the people of South Sudan. Amendment of the Constitution should be a political decision that should be taken by all the political forces in the country as representatives of the people‘s will, for specific reasons and with a clear political programme. It is not the work of one party because it commands the majority in parliament to extend their mandate.

If you all refresh your memories, it was us who proposed the amendment of our Constitution earlier when we did oppose the running of election because there is no peace in the country and census not made but was not the government.

We commend H. E. the President for his commitment to bringing peace to our country. In fact more lives have been lost, most of government and private infrastructures were brought down to ashes, properties looted and destroyed. Millions people displaced and many took refugee in foreign countrie.

We would like to appreciate and recognize the role of our gallant forces in liberating the areas which were under the rebels and their commitment in protecting of our constitution and the territorial integrity of this nation.

Since December 15th 2013 shootout in the presidential guides Headquarters which led our country to this senseless war, the two warring parties made so many efforts to put an end to this crisis but without any success. Agreement on the Cessation of Hostilities was signed and promises were made to bring peace to the country but without respecting them and war continued. We are encouraged by the call of H. E. the President of the Republic on all South Sudanese people to put aside their internal differences and come together as one people one nation to save our country. We also encourage the President to move two steps forward and call for a national consensus dialogue conference of all political parties, civil societies, religious leaders, youth, women, academicians etc. The aim of this national Consensus dialogue conference is to unite the internal front and bring out a roadmap which will be addressing the root causes of the current conflict in the country. This will bring a political decision on peace which will be acceptable to all people of South Sudan.

It is very unfortunate that the President of the Republic could address the national agricultural projects without national policies on agriculture. One thousand tractors launched in Bilfan by H. E. the President should have been given to South Sudan agriculture Bank to regulate the distribution, no other institutions more qualify to do the job than the Agriculture Bank. The government should come out with clear plans how to deal with food shortages in the country. The prices of essential commodities in the market are skyrocketing all over the country and the government is not doing anything. The government should have a well functioning and accountable public sector that make sound policies, regulate the markets, mobilize public resources and deliver services. To promote economic growth and sustainable development, an effective State should be able to mobilize revenues, borrow prudently, plan and manage the spending of public money in an effective and efficient way and to account for the use of funds.

Rt. Hon. Speaker,

Hon. Members,

H. E. the President of the Republic in his address to this august House did not talk about the government achievement during the fiscal year or the government future plans during the coming year. What priorities will be address in the coming financial budget of the government? The president did not address the challenges of education, health, unemployment, infrastructure and the current inflation in the country as well as adjusting our foreign policy. The dollar has gone up against our currency and the government is not doing any remedy to bring it down. The question one can ask is, Has the government failed to address all these problems? There is a need for the government to come up with strong monetary policy to tighten the use of dollar in the market.

Rt. Hon. Speaker,

Hon. Members,

Our recommendations to the speech of H. E. the President of the Republic are as follows:-

1. We call upon the two warring parties to have the political will to respect and implement whatever they agreed upon.

2. We call upon the government to immediately convene a national consensus dialogue conference to unite the internal front and to address the root causes of the current crisis.

3. We call upon the government to address the current inflation in the country.

4. There is a need for the government to regulate the market and come with clear and strong policies on food security.

5. We urgently urge the government to address the current rampant famine in the country.

6. We urge the government to come up with clear foreign policies to get out the country from the current crisis.

7. We urge the government to create policies for employment opportunities of our youth.

8. We urge the government to address the current insecurity in the towns.

In conclusion, we call upon this august House as the representative of the people to join hands and work together to bring peace, reconciliation and building trust. There is no development without peace. There is a need also for our specialize committees to work day and night on the bills and the performance and work plan of various ministries which were presented to this House. We need to double our efforts on the oversight role on the government by amending our Conduct of Business to allow questioning time for the ministers.

Thank you for listening.

Onyoti Adigo Nyikwec

The Minority Leader

National Legislative Assembly