South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Monday directed the Ministry of Finance and Planning to pay the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

President Kiir made the directives during the inauguration of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly in the capital Juba on Monday.

“The CDF was created through the Act of Parliament to enable you, the MPs, to directly fund projects identified by your constituents. It is also intended to allow you, members of parliament, to remain in touch with citizens at the grassroots through projects initiated through CDF,” Kiir said.

The South Sudanese leader underscored the importance of CDF in supporting local initiatives. “I am directing the Ministry of Finance and Planning to work with you, the parliamentarians, where practicable to consider disbursing outstanding arrears owned to the CDF,” he said.

Kiir, however, warned the legislators against misappropriating the Constituency Development Fund, pointing out that some MPs previously misused the funds.

“But there is a problem; some MPs will go and take CDF money to be their own money, but still these issues will come to me, and I will process on it,” he said.

Commenting on the CDF, Peter Lomude, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee for Constituency Development Fund (CDF), said the funds, if paid, will help the parliamentarians to provide services to their people.

 “We have seen some circumstances where children are learning under trees; they have no access to clean water. And if this budget is to be a national budget, it should be felt by our people,” Peter said.

The Constituency Development Fund (CDF) had been put on hold for many years without a clear reason.

The CDF program was adopted by the then Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly in 2007 to directly boost rural development. But some constituency funds failed to reach the health, education or water projects the money was put aside for.