By William Madouk
The government has approved SSP 43 billion and $75 million in a move that could see struggling pensioners finally receiving their dues.
This was revealed in a strategic meeting between Vice President for Economic Cluster Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel and Minister of Public Service Dak Duop Bichiok that focused on pensions, payroll reform, and long-standing public sector issues.
The Vice President issued a directive for the urgent settlement of pension arrears accrued between 2011 and 2023, estimated at SSP 43 billion and USD. 75 million.
“This will bring long-overdue relief to retirees who dedicated their lives to public service at home and in foreign missions,” he said.
Dr. Benjamin stated that pension administration is a national commitment that must be carried out fairly, transparently, and with the utmost regard for aged citizens.
He further called for the full implementation of the Ministry of Finance’s directive requiring all government employees to open bank accounts, as a vital step toward payroll transparency and eliminating ghost names.
Also, he announced a new partnership between the Government of South Sudan and the World Bank to introduce a nationwide biometric registration system.
“This system, to be rolled out at both national and state levels, will enhance accuracy and accountability in managing the civil service workforce.”
Dr. Benjamin cited that these histrionic measures by the President Salva Kiir’s government will restore dignity to retirees, develop trust with civil servants, and ensure public service actually serves South Sudan.
Addressing the media after the meeting, the Minister of Public Service, Dak Duop Bichiok, said, “These are the arrears from 2011 to 2023, which amount to 43 billion SSP and 75 million U.S. dollars. So, in these points, he gives us a directive on how we will pay this money.”
Mr. Bichiok called for complete compliance across all government sectors after pointing out that many states are not making contributions to the pension fund.
“The third point is this, we discuss with him [VP] the states that are not paying their contribution to the public, to the pension fund,” he explained.
“And he will direct and discuss those states, which is the Lake States, the Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Central Equatoria States, Western Equatorial State, and Unity, because the pension fund is central. So, that it’s being proclaimed in a national level,” he stressed.
The meeting was also attended by Mr. Angelo Deng Rehan, Chairman of the South Sudan Pension Fund Board of Trustees, and Mr. Edward Yier Yier, General Manager of the Fund.
In February of this year, the Council of Ministers approved the Pensions Fund Act 2012, Amendment Bill 2024, and the Ministry of Health Strategic Plan at their regular meeting.
Michael Makuei Lueth, Minister of Information and government spokesperson, said, “There was also the issue of the pension between the National and the State governments.”
“Who collects the pension fund from all these? All these have been straightened out, and that is why the Bill was passed, and it is going to the National Legislative Assembly for consideration,” he said.
In Sept 2024, a Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) member raised concerns over the government’s failure to effect the retirement of civil servants who have attained the prescribed age.
Natalina Amjima Malek, who is also the Deputy Chairperson of the Standing Specialized Committee on Information, said that despite parliament passing budgets for the retirement scheme, no civil servant had ever been paid a pension.
“The South Sudan Pension Fund has been receiving employees’ contributions from the Ministry of Finance and Planning since its establishment, yet there has been no retirement of civil servants since 2011,” Malek told parliament.
“The august House has been passing the National Budget for the last 13 years, including the deductions of the salaries of the civil servants,” she said.
According to Section 84(1) of the Civil Service Act 2011, retirement at the age of 65 is mandatory for the civil servants, officials and employees.
Malek, however, said that it has not been possible because the government has not paid people to retire.
She called on parliament to summon the Minister for Public Service and Human Resource Development to explain why his ministry had failed to monitor the implementation of the pension fund.
Jonglei State’s Ayod County member, Gatkuoth Wat, said parliament last year passed SSP 15 billion to the pension fund to prepare for the retired civil servants, but the results were yet to be seen.
“Honorable Speaker, in our last budget, this House passed 15 billion to the pension fund to effect the retirements in installments. The Ministry of Finance is supposed to pay the money in installments to the people who have retired,” he said.