The government of the proposed Gogrial State, one of 28 controversial successor governments, has increased household taxes from 30 SSP to 500 SSP per household.

The ministry of local government in the state brought together the county commissioners, payam administrators and local chiefs recently and informed them about the new changes citing the need to develop the new state as the reason for the tax hike.

Some observers have questioned whether the government will be able to collect 500 SSP from each household. No collection was done last year because the population was considered not in a position to pay, and neighboring Northern Bahr al Ghazal State recently suspended the same tax.

Local chiefs are reportedly not in an agreement about the tax, but they fear to oppose the directive without running the risk of losing their positions, said a source in Kwajok.

Some people in Apuk East are appealing to the government to reduce to 300SSP instead of 500 SSP per a household.

File photo: Akon North village, Warrap State (Creative Commons License/Flickr/hypermobility)