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participated in a discussion in Germany to Prof. Tier, he had requested for about South Sudan.
on vertical distribution of powers. SSP 2.7 million for vehicles but only Extension of NCRC
All these activities were sponsored by about SSP 1.7 million was approved. Mandate
the International Development Law “This has compromised our ability to get Without budget and premises, the
Organization (IDLO) and the German vehicles for our seven full-time members Commission could not operate regularly
government. The core functions of who do not have government cars. We in 2012. According to a member of
the Commission such as conducting also need at least eleven vehicles, one for the commission, Samuel Dong not
nationwide civic education on constitu- services at the head office in Juba and 10 even a single article of the Transitional
tional issues through seminars, radio for our liaison offices in the ten states of Constitution has been reviewed in over
and TV interviews and shows, inviting South Sudan,” he said. a year. As such, the commission initially
proposals from the citizens, visiting a few “Our hope is that the United Nations asked for an extension of their mandate
countries to learn from their experiences, Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) by nine more months but according to
reviewing the Transitional Constitution would be able to assist us by providing some NCRC members who recently
and preparing the draft permanent us with transportation, accommo- visited Kenya, the nine month period
constitution are yet to be carried out. dation and other logistical support for thorough review will be insufficient.
According to some legal experts, carrying From a meeting on
out the actual and crucial activities in the 18 January 2013, the
making of the permanent constitution full-time members
may take time and may not be proposed a period of
completed in the next 12 months even more than one year.
if the mandate of the Commission is What needs to be done?
extended by a year as requested by Prof.
Akolda M. Tier, leader of NCRC. A lot of work remains to
Challenges be done for the citizens
to have their views and
The NCRC came into effect without aspirations included
premises, which according to Prof. into the permanent
Tier has been partly resolved by being constitution.
allocated a building near the taxation This work however
offices in Juba. cannot be done by the
“The approved budget was only SSP nine government alone.
million, when the budget was submitted Development partners
for approval, we had 45 members and like the Interna-
by the time the budget was approved we tional Republican
had 55 members,” said Prof. Tier. Hon. Onyoti Adigo, a member of the National Legislative Institute (IRI) National
He added: “This means we now have Assembly. [Gurtong | Waakhe Simon Wudu] Democratic Institute
10 additional members who were not whenever we visit any state. However, and Eye Radio, all funded by the
budgeted for but receive incentives from we have not got any commitment from United States Agency for International
the same approved budget. Also, the UNMISS to that effect,” explained the Development (USAID) are already
Cabinet Affairs Ministry has informed us Commission chairman. Poor communi- trying to gauge the views of the citizens
that the salary of the chairperson should cation, insecurity and poor accommo- and also help the citizens and political
be paid by NCRC. This is an added dation in the counties, payams and party leaders to debate the pertinent
pressure on our approved budget.” bomas are also likely challenges to the issues like what type of governance South
The mobility of the commissioners to the most needed public civic education on Sudan needs and what they want to be
states has also been compromised due to constitutional issues crucial for making included in the permanent constitution.
a lack of logistical facilities. According an inclusive permanent constitution for What kind of constitution/governance

Gurtong Focus Monthly February 2013| 13