By William Madouk
Lakes State Governor Rin Tueny has expressed deep concern over the ongoing delay in salary payments for the state’s 13,000 civil servants.
Speaking at the Governors’ Forum, governor Rin stated that salary delays are a serious issue contributing to poor performance and exacerbating the rise in crime across the country.
He questioned how he could justify the persistent delays to the state’s workforce, many of whom rely solely on their government salaries for their families’ survival.
“The big challenge is the delay of salary for civil servants and organized forces continue to affect morals, work performance and increase crime. The issue of salary is a serious matter,” he said.
“We no longer call it delay but it does not exist at all, and Cde FVP, in Lakes state we have 3,980 workforces – we have been promising this workforce every month that you wait, be patient, salary is coming – it’s one year now,” he added.
Governor Rin stated that the South Sudanese are the most resilient people on Earth, enduring an entire year without receiving salaries.
“Where are we going? With salary, you buy services from people – I don’t know how to describe our people, South Sudanese because when you see they are resilient – one year without salary. When you sit alone as a leader (how do you feel),” he said.
He asked the first vice president what he should tell civil servants in his state after returning from the 8th governor’s forum.
“Cde FVP I need an answer when I go back from here, what do I tell these 13,000 workforce? What will I tell them? It sometimes makes us feel ashamed when you move in your convey with flag high and you are asking yourself what will do now to this people,” he noted
He urged governors to come out with resolutions that tackle salary issues, adding that it’s no longer a challenge but a national disaster.
“I need this forum to come out with resolutions so that we can take it to states and administrative areas in a clear manner because if there’s no clarity for our people, common people like Gateman,” he said.
“As governors, we are talking of delay – it’s now one year of no salary and we don’t know when it’s going to be received this needs immediate solution – it’s an emergency, I will not say it’s a challenge but it’s a (national) disaster,” he continued.
The Sudanese civil war, which started in April 2023, has had an impact on the South Sudanese economy, disrupting oil flow, South Sudan’s main source of income.
As a result, some civil servants have not received their salaries since November 2023.
The forum, organized under the theme “Forging Sustainable Peace: Committed Action in the Extended Republic of South Sudan Transition,” brings together governors, state officials, and international stakeholders to discuss challenges and strategies for South Sudan’s transition.