A delegation of finance officials from the former Western Equatoria State government have met with the governor of the newly created Maridi State to brief him about financial procedures in order to effectively set up financial systems in the new state.

Maridi State is one of 28 successor states created by Salva Kiir by decree, which the opposition parties in Juba say are unconstitutional.

Africano Monday, governor of Maridi State, received the former Western Equatoria director-general for planning in the ministry of finance and the director-general of public service.

Alison Yoore, the director general in the Ministry of Finance in the former western Equatoria State, says they are in Maridi today at the invitation of the Maridi State governor to brief him on the financial procedures.

“We responded to the call of the Honourable Governor for Maridi State. He wanted to know much about our financial procedures, including the block grant, the transfer from the national government to states and even to county level, and also issues concerned with public service,” said Director-General Alison Yoore.

“The governor was very happy with our coming and what he wanted to get from us we gave him, and he was saying he was not so converse with the financial issues as a constitutional post-holder, so he wanted us to brief him on how we deal with the financial issues at the state level.”

He added, “I think this is the spirit we want to get from our leadership, because if you don't know anything you don't need to take decisions – but you need to know the basics of the thing, then based on that you can take a good decision that will not affect your subordinates.”

Nelson Sebit, the director-general in the ministry of public service, also briefed the governor on the challenge of pensions in the public service. Nelson thanked the Maridi state governor for the good working spirit saying they are ready to come any time for help.