Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) said there no effective pension system without reforms in human resource.

By James Chatim

The Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) has advised for the establishment of a genuine reform process in the human resource sector in South Sudan, stating that there is no effective pension system without reforms in human resource.

Edmund Yakani, the Executive Director of CEPO said it is essential for South Sudan to have an effective pension system to provide civil servants and organized forces with financial security after retirement.

Speaking to The City Review on Friday, Yakani urged the country’s leadership to enlighten the public and the civil servants about the key issues regarding the country’s pension system.

In an interview with Eye Radio on Friday, the Inspector General of Police, Gen. Abraham Manyuat, said his institution is planning for a physical fitness screening for the South Sudan National Police Service members to enforce pension laws to retire elderly officers to enhance efficiency of the Police Service.

Gen. Manyuat stressed on the need for urgent reforms within the SSNPS to improve efficiency and operational capacity.

He added that the police service is currently paying salaries to individuals who are not active officers and others that work in private entities while being members of the police. He attributed this to the failure of a proper retirement of officers with benefits, which reduces the efficiency of the institution’s performance.

However, Yakani said that transparency on pension funds is paramount to delivering effective human resources reforms.

“CEPO is strongly urging the leadership of the country for human resources reform to be genuine. It is essential for pension funds to be effective and timely,” Yakani said, adding:

“CEPO is strongly urging the leadership of the country to inform the public and civil servants where the dedicated pension funds are. Any human resources reform without effective pension is not good.”

The South Sudan Pension Fund (SSPF) was established through a legislation on November 28, 2012. The institution as established to manage pension schemes as an independent body governed by a board of directors with independent audit and actuarial oversight.

The SSPF was also to receive and pay out past pension contributions from Sudan, as set out in the recent Addis agreements.  

“A proper pensions scheme will ensure that at the end of working life, South Sudanese nationals will receive some benefit from the State and be able to retire with dignity,” stated the British Embassy in Juba, lauding the move when the fund was established in 2012.