The government of Wau State in South Sudan says it will start paying increased salaries to civil servants per a recent decision of the Council of Ministers in Juba that tripled the salaries of certain staffs owing to devaluation of the South Sudanese pound.

Wau State is one of two successor states of Western Bahr el Ghazal after a presidential order dividing the state into two. Opposition parties call the division of the state illegal because the constitution stipulates that there are only 10 states in South Sudan. Nonetheless, officials have moved forward with plans for administering the country along the new state lines.

According to the financial director of Urban Water in Wau town, the new increment of salaries is being implemented by February and the public servants from grade 16 to grade 10 will receive their 300% increase of the basic salary.

However, salaries have been delayed, and civil servants are concerned the inflation has outpaced the salary increase.

Radio Tamazuj interviewed a number of employees in various government institutions in Wau who raised concerns over soaring price in the markets even after the increase of their salaries.

One employee said the salary increase has covered some of the needs but it has not solved the issue of rising price in the market. “My salary was 450 SSP and by the new increase I got 900 SSP but when I went to the market to buy some goods the money has all gone.”