By Binia Elizabeth

In a bold move to streamline the payment of civil servants’ salaries and enhance financial accountability, the Ministry of Finance and Planning has issued a strong directive requiring all government employees to immediately open personal salary accounts with commercial banks.

The announcement, issued in an official circular dated July 29, 2025 by the First Undersecretary of Finance Arop Nuoi Arop outlines urgent steps being taken by the government in partnership with the Bank of South Sudan to digitize salary payments and strengthen the national payment system.

The directive comes after a series of high-level meetings between the Ministry of Finance, the Bank of South Sudan, and accounting officers from various ministries, departments, commissions, and authorities (MDAs).

“Only spending agencies that submit consolidated personnel salary account data will be eligible to receive salaries,” the circular warns. “Failure to comply will result in withholding of salary disbursements.”

The key policy measures include Mandatory Bank Accounts; that all civil servants must immediately open personal salary accounts with commercial banks.

Meanwhile, the Bank of South Sudan has negotiated with commercial banks to reduce the costs associated with account opening, salary withdrawals, and ATM services.,

Additionally, the Ministry of Finance will cover all fees related to opening salary accounts, including for unclassified staff. Further, mobile money has now been officially recognized as a legal and valid tender for transactions, expanding access to digital financial services.

According to the ministry, civil servants who already have personal salary accounts are now receiving their salaries in a timely manner, a milestone attributed to recent policy reforms.

The letter also emphasized that non-compliance will not be tolerated. Agencies that do not submit full personal bank account data will be summoned to appear before a Salary Payment Taskforce to explain their inaction.

“These measures are not optional,” said Undersecretary Arop. “They are essential to transforming our salary payment systems, ensuring transparency, and promoting efficiency.”

The Ministry urged all Directors General for Administration and Finance across MDAs to fast-track the account opening process, consolidate data, and submit it promptly to both the Bank of South Sudan and the Ministry of Finance and Planning.

The has received the backing of various top government officials, including the Vice President and Chair of the Economic Cluster, Dr. Bol Mel, the Minister of Finance and Planning Dr. Marial Dongrin, the Minister of Public Service and Human Resources Development, and the Governor of the Bank of South Sudan, Dr. Addis Ababa othow, among others.