Members of the organized forces in South Sudan’s Eastern Equatoria State are celebrating a momentous 400% increase in their salaries. The pay raise has brought joy to many within the organized forces.
However, concerns have arisen regarding the escalating costs of essential commodities, prompting a call for state government intervention to address this issue.
In August, the national legislative assembly passed SSP2 trillion for the fiscal year 2023/2024 budget with a 400 percent increment in salaries and wages of civil servants and organized forces.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday, Maj. Gen. Caesar Tombe, Director of Prison Services in Eastern Equatoria State, confirmed the salary adjustment and highlighted its positive impact on his department.
“This is true; we have received a new salary structure. Someone who is a private, and of course, for prison services alone, Wildlife and Fire Brigade are different. In our budget, the private gets SSP 35,066, and earlier it was SSP 2,300. Nobody refuses this increase, and someone can now be happy because of the current problems where children are being chased from school, and nothing can be bought at home. This new salary structure is now helping,” he said.
Maj. Gen. Tombe stressed the importance of the salary increase in improving the livelihoods of soldiers and encouraged them to remain committed to their duties. “The situation of a soldier is now good because they can pay school fees and buy something small at home. We receive only one month’s salary, and we are yet to receive two months of back pay. The government has done something good. It shows that the situation of soldiers is being addressed, and their salary has been increased,” he added.
He further emphasized, “But now it is upon the soldiers to put in their efforts in work because the government has done its part. The government is ensuring that salaries for soldiers go straight to the soldiers, and now soldiers must do their work well, and there should be no cases of soldiers deserting their posts.”
Maj. Gen. James Monday Enoka, Eastern Equatoria State Commissioner for Police, also confirmed the substantial salary increase and expressed gratitude to President Salva Kiir for addressing the concerns of the organized forces.
“We thank the government, especially our President Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit, for considering the situation of organized forces, especially the police, and making their working conditions conducive. We hope the new salary structure with a 400% increase will boost the morale of the security forces, especially the police, so they can perform their duties with commitment,” he stated.
Maj. Gen. Enoka explained that the previous salaries were insufficient, and the increase would help improve working conditions and encourage better performance.
Maj. Joseph Taban Saturlino, an officer with the Eastern Equatoria State Wildlife Service, confirmed the receipt of his new and adjusted salary. He expressed his satisfaction, saying, “I have received my new and improved salary. In the past, I used to receive SSP 8,000, and it was something small, but now I am paid SSP 136,000. This increase is the best thing that the soldiers were expecting. The work was not going well because that money was not enough for daily expenses, home, or school fees. But now the soldiers are happy, and all the soldiers who had left have returned to work, and their morale has been boosted.”
However, some members have expressed concerns about the high prices in the markets, pointing out that their increased salaries may not be sufficient to cope with rising costs.
Pvt. Rose Ilibo, a member of the Eastern Equatoria State Police Service, acknowledged the positive impact of the salary increments on their work and livelihoods. She commented, “We, the soldiers, are now 100% happy. We received good salaries; I got the money increase today, and my children will eat well. But there’s a problem with women retailers (Awara-wara); they are increasing prices significantly, thinking people have enough salaries. Now, school fees are one side, and food is the other side. The government should also address the issue of traders so that prices return to normal.”