Authorities in South Sudan’s Tonj State have accepted to implement a pending pay rise for teachers, health and water staff in the state.

Tonj State Acting Governor Manhiem Bol Malek told Radio Tamazuj that the decision was reached on Tuesday following a meeting held by workers’ union, ministers and accounting officials from the line ministries.

Bol further said January arrears for teachers will be paid after a thorough screening to establish the correct number of teachers in the payroll.

“Resolution number one, the first agreement, this money should be paid to teachers. This is what we have agreed for. Secondly, it should not just be paid. We must know the number of teachers and we should know them physically because maybe this number has ghost names,” said Bol.

“This is because the staff of the ministry of education did not agree on their number, then we have concerns. We should give it with assurance that this is Santino, this is Deng, this is Makur, this is Edward and that is Jima,” he added.

Manhiem called on the state teachers to refrain from ultimatums, saying things are discussed and amicably resolved.

Last week, Tonj teachers threatened to go on strike over poor working conditions and low pay. They complained that they are denied pay rise like their colleagues in Gogrial and Twic States.