More than 1,000 chiefs in Lakes State have received their July salaries with a 400 percent increment. The beneficiaries include grade seven for paramount chiefs, grade 11 for sub-chiefs and deputy chiefs as per the Ministry of Public Service Establishment Act.
Rumbek Central County, Paramount chief, Sultan Madol Mathok Agolder told Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday that each administrator walked away with an equivalent of SSP107,000, which includes the 400 percent pay rise in Lakes State.
He expressed joy that the windfall was a major boost to the administrators as they would be able to solve their domestic financial needs.
“Our increments of 400 percent has come and we shall continue to receive the remaining perks, going forward,” Sultan Madol said.
He said the administrators were on high alert following the ongoing preparations for elections, later this year.
Chol Kuotwel Manhom, State Minister for Local Government and Law Enforcement Agencies said: the chiefs have been receiving their salaries over the past year.
“Lakes State is paying all the chiefs because this was resolved in the 5th Governors Forum. The forum resolved that all chiefs in the Republic of South Sudan should be paid their salaries immediately to implement that resolutions. The Lakes State Government organized the chiefs and through the Ministry of Public Service and all the chiefs were given graded so that they can fit in the pay structure,” he said.
“You know very well that the eight counties and six ministries were not paid earlier but were later considered for payment by the National Ministry of Finance,” Chol added.
He said the money for the eight counties was dispatched before Christmas and since then, the same counties have been receiving salaries the chiefs and their administrative staff.
“Payment is going on and all the chiefs in Lakes State are receiving their payment,” Chol said.
The minister stated that all chiefs including the paramount chiefs, sub-chiefs and members of different courts.
“Members of regional courts, and members of bench courts are paid according to their grades. For example, we are paying grade seven paramount chief and grade 8 for other regional courts that are responsible for Payam Customary Courts while grade ten is for executive chiefs and their deputies. The rest including members of the regional courts and sub-chiefs chiefs are paid at grade 11.”
“We depend on the chiefs on so many things. For example, during the liberation, chiefs were responsible for providing logistics for the liberation struggle and this continued until the independence of South Sudan. This could have not happened without the commitment of our chiefs in the country,” Chol said.
He said the Government of Lakes State under Governor Gen. Rin Tueny Mabor is implementing the resolutions of the last Governors’ Forum.
Chol said the administrators’ welfare should be prioritized because they are the main links between the government and the citizens.
“They are going to continue receiving their salaries and of course they are going to continue their duties related to security, development and organizing our people to be productive,” the Minister emphasized.
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