By Yiep Joseph
In response to mounting criticisms, Jonglei state government has come out of the shadow to explain how it spends the Personal Income Tax (PIT) it collects each month, totaling approximately $190,000.
Since the formation of the Transitional Government of National Unity, Jonglei state has not presented a single budget to the state assembly, raising concerns about transparency and accountability in financial matters.
Various governors have ruled without providing a clear accounting for how state taxes are utilized.
Former state governor Denay Jock Chagor, who also came under scrutiny for his handling of state finances, disclosed during a governors’ forum that the PIT revenues are primarily allocated for security purposes, as mandated by the national government.
However, he faced accusations of creating a personal account for state tax revenues and declined to disclose the total amount collected during his four-year term in office.
This lack of transparency has further fueled suspicions among citizens regarding the management of public funds.
However, addressing journalists in Juba on Thursday, Jonglei state governor Mahjoub Biel Turuk revealed that the monthly PIT collection amounts to United States dollars (USD).190,000.
The governor’s public statement on the PIT spending came after some social media critics claimed that the governor and close executives, friends, and relatives were collecting over USD 300,000 monthly for their personal use, instead of state development.
He revealed his decision to provide detailed spending information on the PIT to inform the public so that they would never listen to what he termed propaganda to bring down his leadership.
The governor expressed that due to economic hardship that has made the national government unable to pay its workforce, the state government has been left with no option but to use the PIT.
Spending breakdown
In category A, the governor revealed that his office receives a total of USD 31,000 monthly and spent as below:
The governor’s office receives USD 10,000 monthly to be used in his extended family house.
Governor Mahjoub also said that since his appointment in May 2024, his house has continued to be full of people, who are catered for by the state government.
In addition, USD 9,000 is allocated for renting the governor’s new brand V8 car.
He added that USD 6,000 also goes monthly for hiring a hardtop (escort) Land Cruiser car for his security service.
As a government employee, the governor also received USD 6,000 monthly to pay for his house rent in Juba.
Mahjoub, however, defended that such an amount is cheap, claiming that some government officials accommodate their families in hotels, a case he rejected.
In category B, the governor claimed that his deputy governor receives a total of USD 22,000 per month, which is spent as below:
USD 10,000 is allocated for operation in the family house, and USD 9,000 is allocated to hire a car for use in state government activities.
Just like the governor, the deputy governor also received USD 3,000 for house rent in Juba.
In category C, the governor stated the six advisors to the governor receive USD 600 each, bringing a total of USD 3600 monthly.
Category D involved the Council of Ministers, of which a total of 17 members received 9,350, with each going away with USD 550 every month.
The governor added that category E which comprises the Head of Commissions, Deputies, and Members received a collective amount of USD 6,000.
The state assembly
According to the governor, the Speaker of the Jonglei State Assembly receives USD 1,500 for food and treatment as well as an additional USD 1,500 for house rent, making the total to USD 3,000.
The Deputy Speaker also receives USD 1,000 for food and family treatment.
In Category G, which comprises members of Parliament, the governor revealed that the 98 members receive USD 200 monthly, making a total of USD 19,600.
Security Allocations
A total of USD 60,000 is allocated for security in the state, with USD 27,000 given to troops stationed in Toch and Bothioagany to cover food and other essential needs.
The governor claimed that USD 33,000 is always set aside in the security budget to respond to emergencies in the sector.
Under this category, according to the government, USD 7,400 is reserved for assistance to citizens requiring medical treatment and other necessities.
According to Governor Mahjoub, USD 3,000 is allocated for various government pledges and occasions.
The governor expressed hope to support youth in education; USD 9,550 is allocated for students studying abroad (including PhD, master’s, and bachelor’s students).
He added that such a fund does help them in getting tickets as well as respond to the other challenges that may come in.
Governor Mahjoub added that a total of USD 10,000 is designated for medical treatment of constitutional post holders; also, he failed to reveal the category of the postholders.
Coordination Office Expenses
The governor stated that a total of USD 3,000 is allocated for the rent for the coordination office in Juba, with an additional USD 1,500 is set aside for services-related operations.
The governor concluded that the state government would continue to update the public about the use of taxes as part of transparency in the use of public funds.
He expressed that the state government would focus on ensuring that there is a budget prepared for the state to guide in generating and spending state revenues.