Torit State Legislative Assembly building | Credit | Ijoo Bosco/Eye Radio

Members of the Torit State Legislative Assembly have issued a vote of no confidence against the state Minister of Agriculture for failing to control illegal logging in Torit.

The MPs voted after listening to a lengthy report on the inability of the Minister to follow state policies on regulating logging.

Last month, Torit State Revenue Authority said the state is losing millions of South Sudanese pounds in revenues to illicit forest activities including logging.

It said some individuals are issuing out form 15 which authorizes loggers to access the forest.

According to the speaker of Torit state Legislative Assembly, Charles Udwar, a new report shows that the state lost more than one hundred and $11,0700 within this year alone.

“We found that there are a lot of loses in Pageri [$17,000], in Magwi County [$21 million], in Ayaci [$26,500], in Torit west we have lost $11,200 while in Geria County we have lost $56,000. This is very alarming, and if we don’t take action then we will not be representing the will of the people,” Hon. Udwar said.

The 24 MPs at the state legislature all voted in favor of the motion moved by Honorable Severino Maira -representing Lopit North Constituency.

“We have seen that the state is moving toward a wrong direction and the ministry of agriculture has failed to perform its own duty. [So] I move a motion of no confidence against the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Forestry in the interest of the public,”said Severino Maira.

The motion was passed despite an appeal for leniency by the Minister, Clement Lako Chichim.

Torit state governor, Tobiolo Alberio is expected to endorse the decision of the assembly against Mr. Chichim.

This is the first known act by state or national legislature to terminate the service of a minister over mismanagement of public resources.