By Yiep Joseph
Government has disclosed disbursing two-months’ salary for Civil Servant and organized Forces, after over dozen months without pay.
The announcement followed a promise by Vice President and Chairperson for Economic Cluster, Benjamin Bol Mel, to pay salaries from 24th of every month.
According to Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel, the decision to pay salaries was reached during a meeting with President Salva Kiir Mayardit
Civil servants and organized forces have not been paid for over a year despite their continuous commitment to their work.
In fulfillment of the promised, the Office of Vice President for the Economic Cluster, confirmed disbursement of two-month salaries.
“The Vice President reported that this commitment has now been fulfilled, with 100% of salaries for both February and March fully disbursed” the statement read in part.
The Finance Ministry and Central Bank were directed to release out money for paying the salaries to civil servant and organized forces.
In the statement, the Vice President applauded the Ministry of Finance and Finance, bank of South Sudan and South Sudan revenue Authority.
Accumulated 2024 salaries.
Although the two-month salary disbursement became good news, the fate of remaining accumulated months in 2024 surfaced.
In calm a delay, the government, through the Vice President for economic cluster vowed to ensure progress clearance of the 2024 arrears.
The Chairperson of the Economic Cluster, further announced that a roadmap for the progressive clearance of all the outstanding salary arrears will soon be unveiled.
Meanwhile, Executive Director for Peace and Advocacy (CPA), Ter Manyang blamed the government for delay and false promises regarding clearance of previous arrears.
“The Government of South Sudan is not serious at all. They take citizens for granted which makes great risks health especially trauma and depression on citizens” he said.
“I call upon the government to take up the salary’s payment as first priority in the country” he added.
He advised the government never to look at salary as a Favor to the civil servant and organized but rather their right that should be clear without delay.
“If citizens are taken for granted, the news about receiving salaries is not surprising. It is the government’s obligation to pay all civil servants without delays” he said.
Recently, Vice President for the Economic Cluster, Bol Mel, pledged to prioritize clearing salary arrears for civil servants and the organized forces.
Following his swearing-in, Dr. Bol Mel stated that his immediate focus will be addressing the long-standing issue of unpaid salaries for civil servants and organized forces.
“Today, I got clear instruction during my swearing in, the first is about economic reforms,” he said, acknowledging the challenge ahead.
“The first thing that we are going to implement is salaries, we are not going to stop salaries for civil servants. First, salaries then the rest will come,” he noted.
He also highlighted the need for economic diversification through agriculture, mentioning a planned National Agriculture Conference.
“We will also work on individuals that are obstacles to our peace, for our economy to improve we need peace,” he emphasized.