By Yiep Joseph
Following the appointment of Dr. Riek Gai Kok as the new governor of Jonglei State, residents and local leaders are calling for increased transparency and accountability in the management of state revenues.
The key interest is on Personal Income Tax (PIT).
President Salva Kiir appointed Dr. Riek Gai Kok on Friday evening, replacing Mahjoub Biel Turuk and during swearing-in ceremony on Monday, he urged the new governor to ensure that peace and development prevail in the area.
Echoing the president’s call, Jonglei residents and leaders also expressed concerns about the alleged misuse of state funds, with a focus on the allocation of PIT and other collected taxes.
They claim that despite revenue collection, the state continues to suffer from a lack of essential services.
In his remark, Kur Ayuen Kou the Chairperson of Bor County Youth Association in Juba called on the governor to ensure that Personal Income Taxes (PIT) that has been a cause of most controversies in the state be incorporated into state revenues.
Kur expressed that the youth leadership would continue to engage in peace dissemination to ensure unity.
He urged the new governor to ensure proper usage of the resources including the PIT to ensure that services are provided in the state.
The youth leader claimed that PIT has been used for individual interest and there is a need to ensure that benefits the state, not individuals.
He called on the governor to ensure that PIT becomes part of the state budget meant for service provision in the state.
“I request you, Dr. Riek Gai that this PIT is put into the state budget to Finance the state,” he said.
“There is an Animal in the room in Jonglei and that has been the source of fighting. there is something called PIT. This PIT is state a resource, your Excellency and it has been abused and misused for individuals(‘s’) interest.”
on his part, Gatwech Mol expressed that proper use of resources remains vital to development adding that the spending of PIT remains unclear as it is spent by individuals in government.
he emphasized that state taxes need to be used for service delivery adding most areas in the states lack good hospitals and roads among others.
Mol called on the political leaders to remain united and focus on peace and development in the state.
“There is a need for our politicians to remain united and focus on peace and development, time has gone for all those several disagreements between leaders and we need to way forward that is unity” he said
Apiu Awan added that despite several taxes collected, the state hospital that saved many lives continues to face many challenges not attended to.
she called on the newly appointed government to focus on the provision of health services in order to save lives.
Awan emphasized that many people who can not manage private clinics continue to suffer since the state hospitals which they can afford lack necessary medicines.
she called on the government to Use some of the PIT to support the state hospital as well as other development.
Recently a serious showdown emerged in the Jonglei government when the former governor and the former Deputy governor presented conflicting statements on how the $190,000 in collected Personal Income Tax (PIT) was spent.
Former Governor Mr. Mahjoub Biel Turuk revealed to the media that the monthly PIT collection amounts to United States dollars 190,000.
In his breakdown, 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 contrast, former deputy governor of Jonglei State, 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.
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 fuelled suspicions among citizens regarding the management of public funds.