Dr. Mel disclosed that they had already charted a roadmap to clear all outstanding salary arrears progressively
By William Lodu
The government, yesterday, announced timely payment of salaries for civil servants and organized forces, starting from March.
The pronouncement comes after a meeting between President Salva Kiir and Vice President for Economic Cluster Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel.
This was to restore confidence among the public and organized forces in the government’s commitment to timely wage payments.
The Economic Cluster’s Dr. Bol Mel said starting this March; “salaries will be disbursed consistently on the 24th day of every month, an essential step towards ensuring public service delivery, administrative efficiency, and economic reforms.”
Dr. Mel disclosed that they had already charted a roadmap to clear all outstanding salary arrears progressively including key economic interventions such as investment in non-oil sectors to diversify the economy
Implementation of Financial regulations to ensure fiscal responsibility, and the introduction of a Biometric payment system to enhance transparency in salary distribution, are also among the roadmap.
They also resolved the integration of the Banking system for improved financial operations and establishment of a wage bill monitoring system to oversee payroll management
Earlier in his speech after being sworn in, Dr. Mel pledged to prioritize clearing salary arrears for civil servants and the organized forces that have gone for nearly a year without being paid.
In his part, President Kiir reaffirmed his commitment to these initiatives, underscoring their importance in achieving broader economic transformation and fostering a more resilient economy.
He urged all stakeholders, including the private sector and civil society, to actively support and adopt these directives for the benefit of the nation.
The statement by the Vice President comes as a relief to thousands of civil servants who have gone for more than 13 months without pay.
Government has blamed the delay to a limited resource envelop amid economic hardship, exacerbated by the ongoing war in Sudan, which has disrupted the flow of oil, as main reason.
President Kiir, as a parting shot during the recent Governors’ Forum, challenged governors and area administrators to enhance their efforts in generating local revenue to support the economy, as oil production faces challenges due to the civil war in Sudan.
For a country rich in agricultural potential, having an estimated 33million acres of prime arable land, and just a meagre 4 percent in active use, the conversion of agriculture into profitable economic activity has been time.
To activate the sector, Dr. Mel revealed during his swearing in that the government will convene a National Agriculture Conference to revolutionize farming. He urged citizens to cultivate their land as food security is the power. “Dependence ends when we harness our fertile soil,” Dr. Mel said.