Workers Voice Months-Long Hardship
Civil servants across Western Equatoria State describe months without pay, saying the latest single-month disbursement reached banks only this week. Many queued for hours, some leaving empty-handed as cash supplies ran dry, deepening household strain.
Lawmakers Press for Direct Disbursement
Assembly Peace and Security Committee chairperson pledged to table the matter, arguing that routing salaries through ministries rather than commercial banks would shorten queues and restore morale. He criticised what he called ‘poor handling’ that forces professionals to beg for their entitlements.
Timely Pay Linked to Peace and Order
Minister of Cabinet Affairs John Bariyona told a Christmas reflection meeting that predictable income underpins stability. ‘Even a modest salary, if punctual, keeps hunger at bay and tension low,’ he noted, warning that arrears risk fuelling insecurity in already fragile communities.
Calls for Gender Protection and Rights
Women’s representative Flora Gume linked economic stress to rising violence, recalling November’s shooting of a young woman in Masia. She urged stronger safeguards for women, girls and children and demanded accountability mechanisms that function regardless of salary cycles.
State Budget Move Aims at Transparency
Deputy Governor Justin Joseph Marona highlighted the presentation of a detailed state budget, the first in two decades, as proof of renewed fiscal openness. Human Rights Commission Chairperson Margret Fozia Emmanuel welcomed the step but sought clarity for staff battling illness or hardship.
Households Feel Pinch as Services Slow
Teachers, health workers and clerks say unpaid months have cut classroom hours and clinic outreach. Civil society activist Wanga Emmanuel asked political leaders to unite behind development, while Governor James Al-Taib Berapai urged teamwork to safeguard peace and essential services.