The Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) has dissolved the leadership of all standing specialised committees, retaining chairpersons and their deputies in caretaker roles pending the appointment of new leadership.
Speaker Joseph Ngere Paciko announced the decision on Tuesday during a parliamentary sitting in Juba, saying the tenure of the current committee leadership had expired more than two months ago and consultations among political parties were still ongoing.
“We are delaying because of not anything, but we have two partners in the parliament. There are some few issues we want to sort out, South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) and the Other Political Parties (OPP), because we have different communication from different leadership. So when to sort out, then we go ahead,” Paciko said before reading Speaker’s Order Number 7 of 2026.
According to the order, all committee chairpersons and deputy chairpersons ceased to hold their leadership positions effective June 23, 2026.
Paciko said the move followed the expiry of their mandate on April 12, 2026, noting that reconstitution was overdue.
He said the decision was intended to enable the formation of new committee leadership while ensuring continuity of parliamentary business.
“Whereas it is necessary to ensure continuity of pending parliamentary business, oversight of ongoing government programmes and protection of public interest matters during the interim period,” he said.
Under the directive, former committee leaders will continue in a caretaker capacity until new leadership is appointed.
Paciko said caretaker committees would be limited to urgent oversight matters involving public safety, service delivery and public finances, as well as processing legislation already before committees but not yet presented to the plenary, and preparing records and assets for handover to the Office of the Clerk.
He cautioned that caretaker leadership would not be allowed to initiate new investigations, summon witnesses or approve new expenditures beyond routine operations.
“Caretaker leadership shall not initiate new inquiries, summon new witnesses or approve new expenditures beyond routine operations,” he said.
The Speaker also directed committees to compile and hand over all records, reports, minutes and assets to the Clerk of Parliament upon completion of the caretaker period.
“All committee records, minutes, reports and assets should be prepared and handed over to the Clerk of the National Legislative Assembly once the caretaking period comes to an end with the reconstitution of the new leadership,” he said.
Paciko said the appointment of new committee leadership would follow consultations with parliamentary political blocs, including the government chief whip, opposition chief whip, and whips from the Other Political Parties and South Sudan Opposition Alliance.
“The new leadership of the standing specialised committees shall be constituted in accordance with Regulation 67 of the Transitional National Assembly Conduct of Business Regulations 2011 amended 2021, once consultations with the respective whips are concluded,” he said.
The order took effect on June 23, 2026, and will remain in force until revoked or replaced by a subsequent directive.
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