The Minister of Parliamentary affairs Mary Nawai has urged national ministers to attend parliamentary sittings.
The parliament always has sittings every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
In response, Minister of Information Michael Makuei Lueth said the cabinet had agreed that the ministers will have to attend the parliamentary sittings on the days when they do not have their cluster meetings.
“The ministers are supposed to attend the national assembly meetings or sittings on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays,” Makuei reported told reporters after the council of ministers’ meeting.
However, Makuei said some of the cluster meetings for the executive branch of the government are also conducted on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays which he says makes it difficult for the ministers to attend all the sittings in the parliament.
“[If] there is cluster X sitting then cluster B would go and attend the sitting in the assembly so that a minister does not at the same time attend a cluster meeting while he is wanted to attend the sittings in the parliament,” Makuei explained.
Last month, a parliamentary sitting was adjourned due to the absence of the cabinet ministers. The officials were required to attend a debate on the speech of President Salva Kiir at the inauguration of the parliament on August 30, 2021.
President Kiir in his inauguration speech talked of moving the country forward by enhancing security, justice, economy, service delivery including the implementation of the revitalised peace agreement to achieve the necessary development in the country.
Kiir directed the Members of Parliament to exercise their oversight role to push for the speedy implementation of the peace agreement and as well as to check on all government programs to meet the needs of the people they represent.