Ministry of Labor calls for increased budget allocation to government agencies

By Awan Achiek

The Undersecretary of Ministry of Labour, Mary Hillary Wani on Wednesday called for increased budget allocations to various government institutions and agencies to enable them deliver services to the population.

“We need really a turn or good faith from the political leadership in this country to see to it that government institutions are given the necessary resources to be able to deliver services to population of this country,” said Wani during the end of year meeting for the staff of the ministry of labor in Juba.

She said the country is still using “top down budgeting” which is not yielding tangible results on the ground.

“We are still doing top down budgeting which is not helping us. I always believe that as a government if you really want significant development in the country, you to take a lead and other institutions, the partners will come in to support you,”  said Wani.

She also complained that the ministry of labor is often sidelined in budgetary decision-making.

“As ministry of labour, I am disappointed with top down budgeting process, our budget is decided and I have been trying to know who is making this decision and to this date and for all the period that I have been undersecretary of labor, I have not been able to know who is making this decision on the ceiling of each ministry,” said Wani.

The ministry of labor was allocated 585 million South Sudanese Pound in the 2023/24 fiscal budget.

“We have become beggars and this is not acceptable for the government, for sovereign country and for a country that has a lot of resources,” said Wani.

She stressed the need for the change of heart from the political leadership.