By Mamer Abraham
Civil rights activists in Jonglei State have criticized the recent gubernatorial decree for the indefinite suspension of the state minister for labor, public service, and human resource development, John Bany Kuek.
Bol Deng Bol, the chairperson of Jonglei Civil Society Network, claimed that the governor’s decree was in reaction to the suspension of the director general of the ministry.
He further argued that the decree was an interference in the investigation into the reasons for the suspension of the director general.
“Governor, suspending the Minister of Labor, Public Service, and Human Resource Development simply for having suspended his Director General pending investigation is an unwarranted interference in the Minister’s internal administrative measures,” Bol said in a statement seen by No. 1 Citizen Daily Newspaper.
“This is a clear case of intimidation by His Excellency Denay Jock Chagor, intended to influence the investigation against the Director General,” he continued.
He urged the governor to reinstate Kuek unconditionally and proceed with his ministerial duties as before.
On Friday, the governor of Jonglei State, Denay Jock Chagor, suspended Kuek from his docket in a gubernatorial decree.
“I, Denay Jock Chagor, governor of Jonglei State, do hereby issue this gubernatorial decree for the suspension of Hon. John Bany Kuek as Minister of Labor, Public Services, and Human Resource Development in Jonglei State,” the decree reads.
“Issued under my hand and the seal of the government of Jonglei State in Bor, this tenth day of the month of November in the year 2023,” it added.
However, the governor did not specify the motive behind his decision to suspend the minister.