The National Constitution Amendment Committee (NCAC) has handed over the NGO and the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) bills to the national ministry justice and constitutional affairs.
Gichira Kibara, the chairperson for NCAC the body charged with supervising the constitutional making process told journalists on Thursday in Juba.
“The purpose of the amendment is to ensure that NGOs have enabling environment to be able to operate without any disruption and in an environment that will enable them to undertake projects for the benefit of the people of South Sudan,” Kibara said.
He said they have strengthened the provision for appeal in case NGOs are dissatisfied by the decision not to register them.
“We have also provided for them to make annual report to the commission to ensure that their financial activities are properly being carried out and people are benefiting from their activities,” Kibara said.
Kibara revealed that they have also created NGO Forum to bring together all NGOs to deal with their own internal matters, adding that commissioners of RRC are supposed to be appointed by the president in consultation with the vice presidents.
“Actually, within the next six months if we get necessary support from stakeholders including the government we will have several important laws including the telecommunication law, law for national investment, law for transport and law governing pension,” he said
Gabriel Isaac Awow, the undersecretary for the national ministry of justice and constitutional affairs said they will forward the two bills to the council of ministers for consideration.
“The committee has amended most of the provisions of the NGO Act to make sure it is complying with the agreement and the constitution, they secured 30 percent for the women, and they also streamlined the process of appointment which include the citizens who get chance also to be employed,” Awow said.
