As part of belt-tightening measures in Upper Nile, governor Chol Thon Balok has banned government officials in the state from using public funds to print and send Christmas and New Years cards this year.

State Information minister Daniel Yor Akec said the budget for printing Christmas and New Year cards should instead be used to facilitate repatriation and resettlement of displaced people and refugees.

“So it was resolved that anyone [in government] who wants to print Christmas and New Year cards as a way of sending out special messages and greetings to family members, relatives, colleagues, and friends, should do it at personal cost," Yor said. "The funds which should have been used for these cards should be used to facilitate repatriation or resettling programs of our internally displaced person from our neigbouring countries.”

Yor said the decision was unaminously approved in a recent cabinet meeting.

Separately, the official said the state welcomes President Salva Kiir's decree to create and appoint 28 new state governors, saying it was implementation of the SPLM vision of taking towns close to the people. He said many people are celebrating the decision in Upper Nile state.

File photo: Upper Nile governor Chol Thon