The Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) on Friday committed the speech made by President Salva Kiir during the reopening of the first session of the House on 3 April to a select committee.

The 23-member committee was formed to scrutinize the speech and report back in 14 days.

Kiir’s speech touched on several issues ranging from the economic meltdown the country is experiencing, food insecurity, youth unemployment, and the General Elections slated for December among others.

Addressing the press on Friday, TNLA Spokesperson John Agany said that once passed by parliament, the speech will become a policy document.

“Thank God that we have arrived at this session and the president's speech has already been tabled today,” he explained. “Speaker Jemma Nunu Kumba has committed the speech to a National Legislature ad hoc committee formed to discuss, tackle, and scrutinize the president's speech. In that regard, the speech will become a policy framework.”

Agany underscored that it is important to consider the president’s speech because it also touched on security and the need for the country to embrace agriculture as the backbone of its economy.

“When it comes to the security sector, we need to be secure so that we have the government agendas being run. We also need to have food security which the President mentioned and said that we should take agriculture as a backbone so that our people have food on the table,” the legislator added.

In his speech to parliament, President Kiir urged citizens to prepare for the polls and Agany said their role as legislators is to ensure outstanding issues are addressed.

“More importantly, the the president asked the nation to prepare for the national elections which is the way forward to implement the peace agreement. So, as the National Legislature, we will take up these tasks and make it a workable framework for the government,” Anny stated. “We will ask all government institutions and sectors to follow exactly what the president voiced because we need peace in the country. We need to live in harmony and put food on the table.”

On her part, Mary Nawai, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, said it is good to discuss the president’s speech because it touched all aspects of life.

“The president's speech touched all aspects of life, socio-economic, community, and the political environment. The speech also talked about the implementation of the peace agreement and deployment of the necessary humanitarian policies,” she said. “It also mentioned the formation of political institutions such as the National Election Commission, the Political Party Council, and the National Constitution Review Commission. The president’s case also declared and encouraged the citizens to embrace agriculture because it is the backbone of this country that can improve the economy.”

“The president also talked about the election and said we should prepare for it because it is going to take place in December 2024,” Minister Nawai concluded.