Bahr el-Ghazal University Staff Strike still on over pending salaries

Bahr el-Ghazal University’s academic and non-academic staff are continuing their strike, demanding the payment of their remaining salary arrears. Despite receiving one month of overdue pay, the workers have vowed to maintain their protest until they receive the total amount owed.

The strike began on October 14, when staff members expressed frustration over delay in payment of their salary, which they said had accumulated to eleven months. The grievances included salaries, ticket allowances, and medical arrears. Joseph Lual Dario Deng, the Chairperson of the University Academic Staff, addressed the media about the situation. “We are still demanding our salaries for 10 months. The one-month pay will not do much for us as we have many debts and bills to pay,” he stated.

The financial situation has left many staff members in dire state. Dario shared that while the recent payment provided some relief, it was far from enough. “When we go to the banks, they tell us that they don’t have enough cash,” he said, highlighting the difficulties in accessing their money.

Many staff members have experienced significant challenges when trying to withdraw their salaries. “You can queue at the banks from morning to sunset but end up not getting the full amount,” Dario explained. This ongoing issue has added to the frustration among university staff, who feel their needs are being ignored.

The economic challenges facing South Sudan are partly responsible for the delayed payments. Since the conflict from 2013 to 2018, the country has struggled economically, with dwindling revenues from crude oil exports. More recently, disruptions due to the war in neighboring Sudan have worsened the economy.

President Salva Kiir acknowledged the issues earlier this year, admitting that civil servants and soldiers had gone unpaid for months. He pointed to the mismanagement of funds collected from non-oil revenues. As a result, many professionals, including teachers and doctors, have faced prolonged payment delays, leading to a wider crisis in the public sector.

“We are still demanding our pay and our strike continues,” Dario asserted, emphasizing that the staff will not return to work until their needs are met.

The university staff have appealed to the National Government for immediate action to release the remaining funds. Dario urged, “We want the government to understand our situation and release the remaining 10 months’ pay so that all the staff can resume their duties.”

As the strike continues, students are left uncertain about their education, while the staff remains resolute in their demands. The situation reflects a broader crisis in South Sudan, where public sector workers have lately gone for month without pay.

On October 14, non-academic Staff Association of Rumbek University of Science and Technology have threatened to strike from today (Monday) over lack of payment of their ten months’ salary from January to September 2024, and arrears of December 2023

Dut Majok Kurauai, the chairperson of the Association said they had a meeting and came up with a resolution that their delayed salaries, which have accumulated for ten months, be paid.

“Therefore, we the Non-academic Staff Association of Rumbek University of Science and technology, have resolved to start our strike with effect from Monday until our demands are addressed by the National Ministry of Finance and Planning. There will be no services at Rumbek University of Science and technology,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sebit Jok Reech, the University’s Guild President called on the government to find an urgent solution and address the suffering experienced by the students, who now go without lectures and food.

“We want the government to understand our situation and release the remaining 10 months’ pay so that all the staff can resume their duties,” Joseph Lual Dario Deng, the Chairperson of the University Academic Staff.