Speaker Ngere Urges Inclusive Public Participation in South Sudan’s Constitution-Making Process
Speaker of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA), Rt. Hon. Joseph Ngere Päciko, has called for broad-based public participation in the drafting of South Sudan’s Permanent Constitution, describing the process as a historic opportunity to forge a lasting social contract between the state and its citizens.
Speaking at the opening of a two-day workshop on Civic Education and Public Consultations on Constitutional Matters organized by the National Constitution Review Commission (NCRC), Ngere said the success of the constitution-making process depends on meaningful civic education and public engagement before the document is adopted.
He stressed that citizens must not only be informed about the constitutional process but also be given the opportunity to shape its outcome, saying this would foster public ownership and strengthen the legitimacy of the country’s supreme law.
The Speaker said Members of Parliament have a key responsibility in bridging the gap between the government and the people, urging legislators to conduct consultations as impartial public representatives focused on listening to citizens’ views rather than promoting political agendas.
Ngere also called for an inclusive and decentralized consultation process that reaches all sections of society, particularly communities in remote and underserved areas.
He urged the National Constitution Review Commission to ensure the participation of women, youth, traditional leaders, persons with disabilities, internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, faith-based organizations, the private sector, farmers, and pastoralist communities.
To improve public understanding of constitutional issues, the Speaker recommended using local languages and culturally relevant communication methods, including drama and music, to make civic education accessible to people across the country.
Ngere commended the National Constitution Review Commission for organizing the workshop and reaffirmed the Transitional National Legislature’s readiness to deliberate on and enact the draft Permanent Constitution in good faith once it is submitted to Parliament.
The workshop forms part of ongoing efforts to advance South Sudan’s permanent constitution-making process through nationwide civic education and public consultations.
