The South Sudan National Youth Union on Wednesday called on the government to increase public employee salaries in the face of rising costs following the floating of the Pound against the dollar.

John Sebit Madit, the union's finance and investment secretary, said the government should have raised its salaries before floating the SSP. He said prices are rising as a result of the floating of the SSP, but government salaries are not keeping up.

"The food and fuel prices have skyrocketed high," Madit said. "The poor citizens cannot afford their daily meals and cannot pay public transport.

"The bus fare from Juba to Custom Market has risen from two pounds to ten pounds, sack of flour that use to be at 350 has risen to 750, liter of fuel from six has risen to 22 SSP. The communication companies have raised their tariffs," he explained.

Madit gave the example of a soldier's salary of 600 SSP per month, which he said should be raised to 2250 SSP in order to afford the higher prices of basic goods.

"You should increase the salaries first before you raise your prices because I want go to the market," he said.

Madit urged the central bank and the finance minister to reverse the decision to float the exchange rate, saying the suffering the new rates have caused civilians is unbearable.

Still, he said his side is not calling for people to take to the streets because he expects the government to listen to citizens' concerns.