By Ephraim Modi D.S
The Government of Central Equatoria State, through the State Cabinet Affairs’ Minister Wayi Godwil issued a statement to give all paramount chiefs in the state vehicles.
Minister Godwil made the speech during the last day of the Commissioners’ and Mayors’ Forum on last Friday in Juba.
Speaking to the members at the event, he revealed that Governor of Central Equatoria State (CES) has directed that the Paramount Chiefs in CES be offered vehicles to curb the issues of mobility of the local government authorities.
“From the issues of the mobility for the chiefs, His Excellency, the governor has directed that the Paramount Chiefs in Central Equatoria State should be provided with vehicles,” he said.
However, he said the task is being entrusted to the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Local Government to coordinate the process of acquiring these vehicles and be given to the paramount chiefs.
Godwil further urged the paramount chiefs to remain patient, “what we are requesting is that you be patient no matter when, you will get these vehicles”.
He added that the state government is committed to supporting the chiefs as the focal people in the community, however, the minister urged the county Commissioners to work very hard and to take responsibility to deal with the mobility of chiefs at their level if they (State government) are taking care of the paramount chiefs.
The state minister of local government Moro Genesio also stressed earlier in his speech that the state and the county must work to make sure that mobility issues of the chiefs are taken seriously because they (chiefs) are another component that help in customary system which is actually part of the government.
Moro also urged the county administrators to work hard to aid in simplification of chiefs since they are provided with less salaries to run adding the county should make sure they ease daily activities of chiefs in the county.
“The county should also work very hard for how to help facilitate the chiefs. We may give these salaries and they are very small but their daily operations should be able to be organized by the counties and supported,” he added.