Civil servants from Aweil West and North Counties who were serving in various ministries in the defect Northern Bahr al Ghazal are complaining about unpaid salaries in the newly created Lol state.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, the two counties’ staffs said they were not paid November salaries for failing to report themselves to Raja, the capital of Lol state.
Simon Deng, a government employee affected by the decision, said their plan to move to Raja has been obstructed by the issue of insecurity and accommodation in Raja.
“You know there are a lot of problems which stop us from going to Raja. One, there are no transport between Raja and Aweil West or North counties,” said Deng.
“There are government vehicles only and they are being escorted by soldiers or sometimes move as convoys because the roads are not safe. If you hire a motorcycle it will cost between 3,000 to 4,000 SSP, because of high prices of fuel,” he said.
Deng appealed to the state government to reconsider its decision, saying citizens are suffering due the current economic crisis.
For his part, William Anyuon Kuol, Minister of Finance and Public Service, said the government decided to suspend the salaries of the civil servants who failed to report themselves to Raja town.
“Yes, it is correct, they have not been paid November salaries, because the directive was given to Lol state employees who are still in former Northern Bahr al Ghazal and former Western Bahr al Ghazal to come to the headquarters so that we will be able to establish the system,” said Anyuon.
“So, those who responded, we paid them, but other people who have not responded, we cannot pay them, because we could know whether these are ghost names or not,” he added.
He pointed out that one month period is now given for those employees to report themselves to Raja where they will receive their salaries. He warned that the government may decide to fill their positions in case they fail to report themselves to Raja next month.