A budget for the Greater Pibor Area has been approved and the money was transferred from the national government to the area administration. The amount is less than what the area administration had requested.
Sam David, spokesman of the GPAA, said the budget was too little for the area, pointing out that they had requested 680 million SSP but the approved budget was 141 million. He said the amount covers only chapter one (salaries) of their budget proposal.
Sam said Greater Pibor needs schools, hospitals and roads. “It is not even a quarter of the budget but we still thank God because government has many needs to meet,” he said.
Since the GPAA was formally established as a special administrative area under the terms of a 2014 peace deal between the SSDF ‘Cobra Faction’ and the national government, the area has reportedly not received its budget.
Meanwhile, civil servants of Greater Pibor Administrative Area have been asked to report to Pibor in order to start working in their various ministries, following the approval of the area administration’s budget.
Apee Ojullo, Minister of Finance in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area, urged civil servants of Greater Pibor still staying in Juba on Sunday to travel to the area.
The official also announced the approval of the budget for Pibor Administrative Area. “The budget has been approved and the funds are now in our account,” he asserted.
The 2000-person workforce of Greater Pibor Administrative Area will face challenges traveling to the area since it is now mainly accessed by air. However, the official said arrangements are underway to transport people by road when the dry season comes from January up to April.
Civil servants of the Greater Pibor Administrative Area will start receiving salaries for the first time in November in Juba but salaries for December will be paid in Pibor. “I encourage each person to find a way to report to Pibor,” said Apee Ojullo.