Permanent Constitution making process impeded by limited funding: official

By Simon Deng

The drafting process of the permanent constitution expected to replace the 2011 Transitional Constitution is being impeded due to delays in passing of the 2024/25 fiscal year budget by the National Legislative Assembly

 Riang Yier Zuor, the Chairperson for the National Constitution Review Commission (NCRC) said on Monday that they will commence the constitutional making process when funds allocated to them are released.

“The main source of funding for us comes from the government and the budgetary process has not come to conclusion, our budget will now be resubmitted as a new budget and we wait for finalization of the process,” Zuor said during the opening of the two-day training workshop on the constitutional making process held at Landmark Hotel in Juba.

The workshop is organized by Support Peace initiative Development Organization (SPIDO).

 Zuor disclosed that the permanent constitution making process will take about 18 months to conclude as opposed to the 24 months originally stipulated in the 2018 revitalized peace agreement.

He also said that NCRC expects the permanent constitution document will reflect the will of the people of South Sudan.

 “The members of the constitution drafting committee have not yet been recruited, as we speak the commission has not yet gone out to the people to gather views because of financial challenges,” Zuor said.

Earlier this month, the council of ministers seeking for revisions and stronger focus on the government priorities sent back to the ministry of finance and planning the draft 2024/25 fiscal year budget.