The Western Equatoria State Governor also urged the national authorities to allow greater political mobility for leaders

By Emmanuel Mandella

In an appeal anchored on the growing concern in the civil service, Western Equatoria State (WES) governor, Alfred Futuyo, has called on the national government to urgently address the issue of unpaid civil servants’ salaries.

Speaking at the reception ceremony of the state’s new Deputy Governor, Badagbu Daniel Rimbasa on Wednesday, November 13 at Freedom Square, Futuyo underscored the associated challenges in the delay in salary payment, which has left workers with arrears of more than a year.

Addressing a crowd of citizens, senior officials, and political representatives, the governor said: “I have a message for the president. Civil servants have not been paid for a year. My second message is that citizens are weary. The 2018 agreement stipulated that security arrangements would be completed within eight months after forming the RTGONU, it has been years now.”

Governor Futuyo also urged the national authorities to allow greater political mobility for leaders, questioning why SPLM-IO chairman Dr. Riek Machar, the First Vice President, has restrictions preventing him from traveling around the country, unlike other vice presidents.

The newly appointed Deputy Governor, Badagbu Daniel Rimbasa, echoed the call for unity and development, promising a leadership grounded in service. “I came as a servant, not a leader. Where are the leaders of Western Equatoria? I am here to prepare future leaders to take over in the upcoming election,” Rimbasa declared, stressing the importance of collaborative leadership for lasting peace and progress in the state.

Community members attending the event expressed hope and urged the state leadership to prioritize the education sector. A representative of the local community voiced their concerns: “We want our leaders to set aside their differences and work in the citizens’ interest. When they have problems, we are the ones who suffer. We need them to improve education in Western Equatoria.”

The impassioned appeals by both the Governor and Deputy Governor drew varied responses from attendees and local citizens. Many shared a sense of frustration over the prolonged delays in payments and were hopeful that the state’s leadership would leverage this momentum to press the national government for change.

A local teacher, Sarah Tandu, stated, “Our livelihoods depend on these salaries. A year without pay is more than just an inconvenience. It is a crisis.”

The event was marked by a show of solidarity, with senior government officials, church leaders, community representatives, and national MPs present. Many SPLM members wore red T-shirts and caps, underscoring unity amidst the ongoing challenges.

“We want our leaders to set aside their differences and work in the citizens’ interest. When they have problems, we are the ones who suffer. We need them to improve education in Western Equatoria,” WES community member.