Teachers in oil-rich Melut County, Upper Nile State, blocked access to the county commissioner’s office on Tuesday to protest unpaid salary arrears, witnesses and teachers said.
The teachers barricaded the entrance to the county administrative headquarters, preventing staff from entering as they demanded payment of wages they say have gone unpaid for up to two years.
About 50 teachers took part in the protest, while the total number of unpaid teachers in Melut is about 150, including some recruited from Uganda, the teachers said.
The protesting teachers were hired under a county program funded by Melut’s 3% share of oil revenues to teach in public primary and secondary schools. The initiative was launched in 2022 under an agreement overseen by community chairman Stephen Dhieu Dau.
Teachers said written contracts were issued during the first two years of the program, followed by verbal agreements, but payments have been inconsistent or nonexistent.
It remains unclear whether Melut County continues to receive its oil revenue allocation. Some local sources allege the funds are being diverted by individuals who lobbied for the appointment of the current commissioner in May 2025, though the claim could not be independently verified.
Similar protests have occurred in the past, with county authorities previously blaming delayed payments on reduced oil revenues during pipeline shutdowns.
Several protesting teachers told Radio Tamazuj that the county offices would remain closed until their salaries are paid.
“Most of us have not been paid for two years or more,” said John Garang, one of the teachers. “We are about 50 teachers, and each of us was supposed to receive $500 per month.”
Garang said the teachers locked the county headquarters earlier in the day and later handed the keys to police before returning to their homes.
“Until we are paid, we will block these offices every day,” he said.
Another teacher, Mut Angelo, said educators continued working despite months without pay after being repeatedly promised compensation.
“According to the contract, we were supposed to be paid $500 each month, but we were told to keep working until money became available,” Angelo said. “Now the commissioner is avoiding us.”
He said the teachers plan to continue peaceful protests to pressure county authorities to address their demands.
Repeated calls to Melut County Commissioner Manyol Ahoch Aguer were not answered. Local residents said the commissioner did not report to the office on Tuesday morning during the protest.
South Sudan’s education system faces chronic funding challenges, with many schools dependent on limited government allocations and international aid. Corruption and mismanagement of public funds have further undermined efforts to provide consistent education services.