Africa-Press – South-Sudan. The spokesperson of the Reconstituted Transitional National Legislative Assembly, John Agany has retracted his earlier statement on the controversial expenditure of SSP12 million that has created jitters in Parliament.
Last week, Agany said the missing cash was allocated by the parliament for the facilitation of the return of South Sudan’s members of parliament to the East African Legislative Assembly in Tanzania.
But on Tuesday, the legislator changed tune and told The City Review in an interview that the SSP 12.4 million—which was equivalent to $15,000— was spent on the tickets and facilitation of Pan-African Parliament members who came for their recess.
“The money was used officially for the Pan-African Parliament members, and it was facilitating their movement from here to Johannesburg. That is how the money was used,” Agany stated.
“However, some of the MPs came with an erroneous statement that the money was misappropriated by the leadership.”
Agany described the money as an allocation for official use in the assembly, arguing that “it was just a fractional contribution to the Members of the Parliament”. He added that RTNLA Speaker Jemma Nunu Kumba could not soil her name with such a meagre amount of money.
Agany stated that the Assembly has its own budget line and that the budget can support the movement of MPs at various levels, including those in East Africa, emphasizing that if money is approved for their movement, it should not be misinterpreted.
No law provides for the approval of funds from the house for lawmakers to travel abroad, he said.
“So that member who is claiming that there is legislation for that, let it be made known to us; otherwise, it just a waste of time to claim things that are not proper. There is no law for that.”
Agany said the clerk of the Assembly is the accounting officer of the institution and is responsible for the money and expenses of the Assembly.
He said if there is any clarification to be made or anybody to be asked, it is none other than the clerk of the Assembly.
“The clerk is the accounting officer of the Assembly and should be the right person to answer any matters relating to or pertaining to finances,” said Agany.
This came after the members of EALA refuted allegations that they were given SSP 12 million by the TNLA for their air tickets.
South Sudan has five members in the Pan-African parliament: four from the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) and two from other parties to the revitalized agreement.
Source: The City Review South Sudan
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