South Sudan Budget: 50% to fund salaries and services, 40.3 billion SSP deficit.

According to the ministry of finance, wages and service delivery would account for around half of South Sudan’s projected budget for 2021-2022, which is SSP 287.0 billion.

Agak Achuil Lual, minister of finance and planning, presented the finance and appropriation legislation on Wednesday.

The estimated total expenditure for FY2021-2022 is SSP 287.0 billion, of which SSP 84.1 billion, or 29.3 percent, will be for wages and salaries, SSP 82.9 billion, or 28.9 percent, for consumption of goods and services, and SSP 46.5 billion, or 16.2 percent, for other purposes.

“While SSP 15.0 billion, or 5.2 percent of the budget, has been set aside for peace implementation, SSP 6.4 billion, or 2.2 percent, has been set aside for contingency in the event of unanticipated situations,” he said.

Minister Achuil reported that 18 percent of the planned budget would be allocated to international responsibilities, with the remaining 0.1 percent allocated for unspecified expenses.

He said the yearly budget will be funded by projected oil and non-oil earnings, as well as assistance from other nations.

“The government plans to spend SSP 287.0 billion, or 12.8 percent of the country’s expected GDP of SSP 2.241.0 trillion. Domestic income will fund SSP 169.3 billion, or 7.6%, of this amount, while credit (i.e. concessional loans) from our collaborating partners would finance SSP 77.4 billion, or 3.5 percent.

The budget’s fiscal deficit is estimated to be SSP 40.3 billion, or 1.8 percent, which we plan to close via commercial borrowing.

House Speaker Jemma Nunu Kumba, speaking after the proposals were presented, offered MPs 21 days to review the package.

“Both the Financial Bill 2022 and the Appropriation Bill 2022 have been committed to the national legislature’s committee on legislation and legal issues, and both are anticipated to report to the house within 21 days,” she instructed.

“According to Conduct of Business 2013 as revised 2021, both will jointly report to the house within 21 days, in line with rule 104 (4) of the transitional legislative.”