N. Bahr el Ghazal assembly passes draft constitution

By Julius N. Uma

November 29, 2011 (AWEIL) — A joint sitting of lawmakers in South
Sudan’s Northern Bahr el Ghazal legislative assembly last week passed
the state draft transitional constitution during its third reading,
after nearly two weeks of deliberations.

Aguer Wol Aguer, the Northern Bahr el Ghazal assembly speaker, November 25, 2011 (J. Uma ST)

The resolutions of the draft fundamental law will later be forwarded to state government for further consultations before it’s sent to the Justice Ministry in Juba, the South Sudan
capital.

The 82-page document, a copy of which was seen by Sudan Tribune, comprises of 13
parts, sub-divided into various chapters and schedules.

“We are not sure how long the process will take before this
transitional constitution is officially passed by our Parliament. It
will depend on the decision taken by the justice ministry,” the speaker of Northern Bahr el Ghazal Aguer Wol Aguer said last week.

All state constitutions are expected to be passed before
the end of this year as per instructions reportedly issued from the
country’s justice ministry.

Among the key issues amended, according to Aguer, was limitation
attached to the numbers of state advisors and that lawmakers resolve
that the state governor can only convene, summon, adjourn or prorogue
the state legislative assembly with the agreement of the speaker.

“The Governor of the State may appoint a limited number of experienced
and professional advisors and define their functions,” stipulates part 6, chapter 2(105) of the draft constitution.

Meanwhile the speaker urged the media to play fundamental role in
creating awareness among the public on the draft transitional
constitution, adding that plans are underway to translate the law into
different local language within the state.

(ST)

Article source: http://www.sudantribune.com/N-Bahr-el-Ghazal-assembly-passes,40859