Central Equatoria State: Finance Minister Submits 108.2 Billion SSP Draft Budget

The Central Equatoria State Minister of Finance, Planning and Investment, Janet Aya Alex, on Monday submitted a proposed SSP 108.2 billion draft budget for fiscal year 2026-2027 to the Speaker of the State Legislative Assembly for tabling. The draft budget was handed over to the Speaker along with the draft financial bill, 2026-2027, and draft appropriation bill 2026-2027 during a ceremony attended by government officials and lawmakers. Speaking to the media after submission on Monday at the state parliament, Minister Aya said the draft budget prioritizes security, education, health and agriculture. “We have come today here to present the draft budget 2026-2027 to the Speaker so that the due process will now begin,” she said. Aya said the proposed budget will first be presented to the Appropriations and Budget Committee (ABC) for discussion before she is officially invited to present it to the August House for the first reading. “What we witnessed was the presentation of the budget to the Speaker; then the Speaker will call the House, the ABC, to sit, and then later on I will be invited officially to come and present the budget to the House,” she explained. “Our proposed ceiling is 108 billion SSP, which is going to address mainly the issue of security, and obviously we know that the key services like education, health, and then agriculture. These are vital, and the budget will be addressing, of course, all the other deliverables that will be cut in that draft budget.” Taban Emmanuel Baya, Speaker of the State Transitional Legislative Assembly, hailed the Minister of Finance for submitting the draft ceiling within the timelines provided by the Public Financial Management Act. “The budget is not just a set of figures; it is a policy document; it is a contract between the government and the people of Central Equatoria. It tells our people where our money will come from, where our money will go, and what service our people will receive in return,” he said. “In line with the vision of His Excellency the Governor, this budget must prioritize the key sectors, which are peace and security, health, education, roads, agriculture, and service delivery to our citizens at the grassroots.” Taban said the budget would be presented to the August House on a date to be announced. “Therefore, upon receiving the estimates today, the following will happen,” he stated. “One, tabling. The budget will be tabled in the House for the first reading, which will be announced to you, Honorable Members, and to the Executive, so that we can get together so that we can attend the first reading.”