MP Calls for Responsible Governance to Address Economic Crisis

By Jenifer James

The Member of Parliament representing Maridi County in the Transitional National Legislative Assembly, Eng. Boutros Magaya Nbangano has highlighted the critical need for responsible governance in tackling the nation’s economic challenges.

In his statement seen by the Dawn newspaper on Friday, Magaya emphasized that addressing the economic woes requires accountability in public office and warned against oversimplifying the situation by placing blame solely on the tension between parliament and the executive.

Magaya stressed that focusing on this blame game diverts attention from the urgent need for effective resource allocation and prioritization by parliament.

He noted that under the previous Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA), the country did not experience the same economic decline or recurring salary delays.

Magaya accused the current TNLA leadership of exacerbating the crisis, claiming that since taking office, parliament has failed in its oversight role and allowed itself to be influenced by the executive rather than holding it accountable.

“The current crisis should not be overlooked, especially since parliament, as an independent constitutional body, has been involved in economic issues since 2021,”he said.

“Parliament has a clear mandate to oversee the executive, and the executive should not supervise the legislative body. Blaming the head of the executive for parliamentary issues is both legally and practically flawed,” Magaya added.

While acknowledging the necessity of dialogue and cooperation between the two branches of government to address the economic challenges, Magaya emphasized that internal issues within parliament require attention.

Magaya argued summoning ministers to parliament is insufficient to address the financial mismanagement. He called for the establishment of stronger financial oversight systems, including the implementation of an Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) to track the national budget in real time.

Magaya advocated for a strengthened Parliamentary and Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to better review government spending, regular independent audits to ensure adherence to financial regulations, and clear legislative frameworks defining public finance management laws with penalties for non-compliance.

He said that these vital measures remain unimplemented, leaving a major gap in the country’s financial oversight system.

In addition, Magaya called for greater transparency in government operations, urging that budget documents and audit reports be made accessible to the public to enhance accountability and encourage civic engagement.

“Transparency will not only improve government accountability but also empower citizens to actively participate in holding officials accountable for their actions,” he said.