Dr. Riang Yer Zuor, the Chairperson of the National Constitutional Review Commission (NCRC), revealed in an interview with Radio Tamazuj that the institution has faced challenges due to a lack of funding. The NCRC has not received any government funds yet but has been engaged in preliminary preparations to fulfill its mandate. The required budget for the Commission is US$43 million to cover various activities, including the national constitution conference and the constituent assembly.
Despite the financial constraints, the NCRC has conducted trainings on crucial constitutional issues and received a temporary advance from the government to sustain its operations. Plans for office renovations, equipment upgrades, and setting up a solar system are in place to ensure the Commission’s functionality. Dr. Riang emphasized the need for timely funding to meet the 18-month timeline set for completing the constitution review process.
With only a fraction of the required budget received so far, the NCRC’s main challenge lies in securing sufficient funds to kickstart civic education and other essential tasks. Dr. Riang appealed to the government to expedite the budgetary process and urged the public to stay engaged as the constitution-making process progresses.