The governor of South Sudan’s Gok State Madhang Majok Meen is unable to execute his duties fully as a governor due to the lack of an office.
After President Kiir’s decrees dividing up South Sudan’s states and counties into smaller units, many state and county governments are left without budgets, equipment or sometimes even offices or vehicles for their top executives.
The former Lakes State had been divided into Gok, Western Lakes and Eastern Lakes States in October 2015.
John Madol Panther, information minister in Gok State, told Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday that the state governor is working without an office, pointing out that his boss is now managing his state under a tree.
He explained that an office that belonged to the former Gok County Commissioner was given to the state legislative assembly.
“So the governor remained without an office, but the community has contributed money to build an office for the governor. The office is under construction and it will be opened in July,” he said.
“So this is the situation in which we are because Cueibet County had no infrastructure. The budget we receive from the government is for salaries only. There is no budget for development at all,” he explained.
“Even me the minister of information I do not have an office,” he said, even the other ministers do not have offices. We only have very small offices for administrative officers,”
The state official pointed out that the state ministers and advisers are also unable to execute their duties effetely due to the lack of vehicles.
“Now I don’t have a vehicle. We walk on foot to work. Sometimes it is difficult when it rains,” he said.