Lobong urges central government to increase revenue transfers for states

By Simon Deng

The Governor for Eastern Equatoria State Louis Lobong Lojore has called on the transitional national government to increase revenue transfer to states.

 Lojore based his demands on the fact that majority of citizens are in the states, adding that they deserve better service delivery.

 “The gap between the national parliamentarians, the state constitutional post-holders or organized forces and the civil servants in terms of privileges and allowances is very wide, the difference should not be very wide like that,” said Lojore on Monday while delivering his presentation during the Sixth Governors Forum at Freedom Hall in Juba.

 “How can I be getting one million South Sudanese Pounds and the soldier guiding me getting 3000 SSP or my cleaner and my office manager getting 5000 SSP that is not correct,” he said.

The central government shares revenues with the states but of recent experts have been calling for more transfers to the states to enable them to effectively deliver basic services.

The Sixth Governors Forum kicked off last week.