A member of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA), Juol Nhomngek Daniel, who represents Cueibet County in Lakes State, has expressed concern over the delayed payment of lawmakers’ salaries and said civil servants who have been grappling with similar circumstances are frustrated.
Speaking to journalists in Juba on Tuesday, the legislator asserted that despite the government’s announcements of salary disbursements, lawmakers have not yet received their full salaries.
This situation mirrors the broader financial crisis facing South Sudan, where delayed salary payments have become a common occurrence. Civil servants across various sectors, including teachers, doctors, and security personnel, have endured months without receiving their wages.
This has led to widespread discontent, with many struggling to meet basic needs and facing severe economic hardship.
Nhomngek who banks with Equity Bank, highlighted that the situation has left MPs in a difficult position.
“We were told to go on recess but there was no money for recess and even our salaries have not been released,” he said. “We are essentially stranded here in parliament, unable to return to our constituencies. We need the services to go to see the people (constituents).
“The public should know that we are not here willingly, but we are here because we have been set up to remain [here],” he added.
Nhomngek castigated the government for releasing misleading information about salary payments.
“You cannot say you are releasing salaries and you are not sure whether you have enough money to cover them,” he charged. “Salaries are human rights. If you raise expectations illegally, it is again a violation of human rights.”
The government’s inability to consistently pay its employees underscores the fragility of the country’s economic situation and the urgent need for reforms to address these critical issues.