By William Madouk
Jonglei State Governor, Mr. Mahjoub Biel Turuk, has ordered an audit of all state institutions to enhance transparency and accountability.
The directive follows recent discrepancies between the governor and his deputy regarding the expenditure of Personal Income Tax (PIT) funds.
In a letter dated January 9th addressed to the Audit Chamber, Governor Turuk requested a comprehensive audit of local revenue, grant transfers, and Personal Income Tax (PIT) for the period of 2022 to 2024.
“The government of Jonglei state leadership respectfully requests the National Audit Chamber of the Republic of South Sudan to conduct an audit for Jonglei state for the years 2022 -2024,” he said.
“I specifically request the audit to include he grant transfer, local revenue and PIT (Personal Income Tax) from 2022 – 2024,” Turuk added.
Mr. Turuk noted that auditing would also help in forging transparency, nail cheat and effect accountability.
“Our leadership is committed to reforming the state system, ensuring transparency and accountability in all our activities,” he said.
“I believe that an audit by the National Audit Chamber would greatly assist in achieving this goal,” the governor added.
Last week, governor of Jonglei and his deputy traded trading accusations over the collected monthly Personal Income Tax and how it was spent.
Governor, Turuk revealed to the media that his administration had collected an amount of $190,000 United States dollars per month.
In a bid to tame wild allegations circulating on social media that his close executives, friends and relatives were collecting over $300,000 monthly for their personal use, he revealed a breakdown of how the tax money was spent.
In his account, Mr. Turuk said his office receives a total of USD 31,000 monthly and his deputy receives a total of USD 22,000 for family, renting cars and house among other operational costs.
In rebuttal, deputy governor Ms. Atong Kuol Manyang trashed the governor’s claim of receiving tax money.
“Frankly speaking, the two bank statements provided by the Governor to the press are incorrect,” she claimed.
“Pertaining to the Deputy Governor’s two cars rent, they have not been paid for seven months, and so are other claims such as house rent and support,” Atong denied.
Ms. Atong alleged that data from a reliable source revealed that PIT is at an average of $336,898 per month.
However, Atong clarified that she and the state minister of finance are not signatories and do not have access to the state’s transactions or financial statements.
She, instead pointed an accusing finger at her boss for withholding SSP1 billion out of SSP 2 billion transfer meant to pay the workforce for the fiscal year of October 2023 in Jonglei state, an allegation denied later by Turuk.
Deputy governor, Ms. Atong called on the national legislature, particularly the Council of States, to intervene and rescue the alarming situation in Jonglei State by exercising their oversight roles.
“Secondly, I am appealing to the Audit Chamber of South Sudan to exercise their mandate and audit the financial management in Jonglei State, starting from June to December of 2024,” Ms Atong stated.
“I am requesting the Bank of South Sudan and commercial banks to avail to us any operating accounts in the name of Jonglei State,” she said.