A lobby group of former state MPs and officials says the National Ministry of Finance has promised over the weekend to pay close to 104 million SSP in post-service benefits to over 2000 constitutional post-holders and parliamentarians from six states.

The decision is in line with a 2013 directive by Government Secretary-General Abdon Agaw that the ministry of finance could assist state governors to pay claims by former officials and MPs provided that the same amounts are deducted later from state block transfers.

According to John Atak Garang, the chairman of a follow-up committee of former officials who were seeking payment of their post-service benefits, said Sunday that the government has hitherto not adhered to the resolution and kept on dodging scheduled meetings to resolve the matter.

However, he said that the government has promised to pay their dues after a press conference about the matter, which was scheduled for Sunday but then delayed.

“Let it be known by the public that what has taken place since 2010 up to now which this committee has been given this task by over 2000 workers across the ten states to follow up their dues, post-service and then since 2014 we have been given, especially Northern Bahr el Gazal has been given half and most of the nine states are still yet not paid,” Atak said

“The current minister of finance informed us tomorrow after we have concluded that we make a press conference he told us that tomorrow 29 February 2016, the three committees will go to his office and will pay the dues. So we have agreed, he has sent delegation to us not to do anything unless we have to meet him tomorrow,” he explained, adding, “We are expecting to be paid 104 million SSP from six states for over 2000 beneficiaries”, including 36 who have passed away.

Atak said post-holders from only one state have been fully paid – Jonglei – while ex-officials from Unity and Upper Nile states have not presented their papers to be paid.

File photo: Finance Minister David Deng Athorbei