The Minority Leader in South Sudan’s parliament Onyoti Adigo Nyikuac has warned that the country is facing economic collapse, saying that new economic leadership is needed to reform the economy.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj yesterday, the minority leader and Democractic Change party deputy chairman stated the budget deficit caused non-payment of civil servants salaries for several months across the country.
The opposition leader suggested changes in financial institutions and appointment of new people in order to improve the current economic crisis, referring to the central bank governor and finance minister.
Adigo pointed out that a new budget has not yet been presented to the new cabinet, while questioning the basis of the current budget in a new political transition in South Sudan.
“The solution of this situation is in the hand of the executive, the president,” said Adigo. “When the transitional government was formed, we thought that there would be a change in policies. But if you retain the old minister of finance and the old governor of the central bank, and the economic advisor who has been reinstated, can you change the economic policy?”
“I think there will never be a change, unless there are changes in those institutions because a new person can come with new policies, the country is changing from bad to worse, which is terrible,” he added.
Doctors to be paid
Separately, South Sudan’s Minister of Health Riek Gai Kok said yesterday President Salva Kiir had donated an amount of 1.8 million pounds to intern doctors at Juba and Wau hospitals who had been protesting over unpaid arrears.
Gai further said his ministry couldn’t employ more doctors due to the budget deficit. He added that the president also directed him to submit a memo to the cabinet on employment of about 150 doctors soon.
South Sudan is currently experiencing strikes involving judges, doctors, teachers and university lecturers. Its inflation rate is reported to be the highest in the world.