The governor of Warrap state Nyandeng Malek on Tuesday issued a gubernatorial order sacking her education minister Atem Atem, amid reports alleging the latter had disclosed a financial scandal involving the state minister of finance, Andrea Aguer Ariik.

Speaking today Atem claimed he was sacked because he had provided information required by the state parliament inquiring why the educational transfers amounting to 325,573 South Sudanese pounds from the national ministry of education meant for the counties did not go in spite of reports indicating that the counties' money had been transferred to the state.

“It is unfortunate that my cooperation with the parliament in responding to provide the information they wanted has been misinterpreted and I believe it is what led to this decision,” said Atem.

The former minister said he would respect the decision of the governor, although it amounts to intimidation and attempts to deny the parliament and the general public the right to know what transpired in order to push for implementation of the transfer of the amount received from the national ministry of education to the counties.

Atem said he did not want to continue to be seen in the counties as the one responsible for the disappearance of the transfers.

“The county authorities, especially the education departments have been asking what happened to the transfers from the national government. They have clear information and track records of what has been transferred to the state but which has not been going to them. So they have been asking until they started to develop an impression that I may have been involved in the plot to block the transfer, which is not what I can do. I cannot sit on what belongs to someone else,” said Atem.

The dismissal comes after the house summoned the finance minister over several issues. Minister Andrea Aguer Ariik, according to a resolution of the house, has been given up to two weeks to appear before the House to provide answers about how the 2014 and 2015 annual budget had been spent.

The acting chairman of information and public relations committee in the state assembly, Ariec Mayar Ariec confirmed on Wednesday that the minister has been summoned by the house.

Ariec said there were multiple issues requiring explanations and clarifications from the minister since they are issues that are “very important” to the citizens of Warrap state.

Some of the issues requiring the minister to provide explanations, he said, were about projects being undertaken in the state capital, Kuacjok, without the knowledge of the House while the source of funding remains unclear to the public and the assembly.

Other issues expected to be addressed by the minister include questions about pension funds and the retirement policy in the state. The minister will be also asked about the circumstances under which educational grant transfers amounting to 325,573 meant for counties and were not transferred from the state to the counties.

The minister may also be asked about the companies which received letters of credit worth 3 million dollars to purchase and transport food items to the state to stabilize the rising consumer prices, according to the source.