The decision to ease the strike was influenced by a commitment made by the Vice President and Chairperson for the Economic Cluster, Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel, to pay salaries promptly
By Aguok Chok
The University of Bahr El Ghazal’s Academic Staff Association and Workers Trade Union have announced the partial lifting of their strike after assurance from the Vice President for Economic Cluster, Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel
The chairperson of the Academic Staff Association at the University of Bahr El Ghazal who is also a lecturer, Joseph Lual-Dario, confirmed the decision during a general assembly meeting held yesterday, April 2, 2025.
“Today, the 2nd of April, 2025, the two general assemblies of the academic staff association and workers trade union in the University of Bahr El Ghazal have conducted their general assembly meeting, and they have announced the partial lifting of a strike as they have recommended it,” he stated.
The decision to ease the strike was influenced by a commitment made by the Vice President and Chairperson for the Economic Cluster, Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel, to pay salaries promptly.
He assured staff that their salaries would be paid on time every month. “Because of the fulfillment statement made by Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel, Vice President and the Chairperson for Economic Cluster on the timely payment of salaries on the 24th of every month,” Lual-Dario explained.
Despite this partial resolution, the university staff still has several unresolved demands. According to Lual-Dario, the university workers have only received their salaries for March 2025, but they are still waiting for payments of arrears that have accumulated over 11 months.
“We in the University of Bl have received the month of March 2025, and we are still looking forward to the following one,” he said.
He outlined the overdue payments, which date back to April 2024, covering May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December, and also include January and February 2025.
Additionally, the academic staff and workers are demanding their flight tickets and medical allowances from 2019 to 2025.
They also seek an adjustment in their salary scale to reflect the current bank exchange rate set by the Central Bank of South Sudan to counter inflation. “We are hoping and looking for adjustment of the salary scale according to the current bank exchange rate of Central Bank of South Sudan to match the inflation,” he emphasized.
However, the university staff made it clear that if their full demands are not met, they will resume their strike without hesitation.
“So therefore, we need all our dues to be cleared, and failure to do so, the two General Assembly bodies will declare another open strike at any time,” Lual-Dario warned.
The University of Bahr El Ghazal Academic Association and the Workers Trade Union have urged the authorities to honor their commitments to avoid further disruptions in academic activities.
“Therefore, please accept an assurance of our regards from the University of Bahr el-Ghazal Academic Association and Workers Trade Union. Thanks,” he said.
The partial lifting of the strike provides temporary relief, but the ultimate resolution depends on whether the government will fulfill all outstanding obligations to avoid the resumption of the strike.