JUBA – South Sudan’s cabinet on Friday passed an amendment bill aimed at streamlining its pension scheme which has been fraught with underperformance, limited payouts and poor record-keeping.
South Sudan’s information minister, Michael Makuei Lueth, said the new bill, when passed by the parliament, will also address what he calls “confusion” on who should collect and pay out pensions between the government at the states and national levels.
“There was also an issue regarding pensions between the national government and the states. There has been confusion among the employees of the states, administrative areas, and the national government regarding who is responsible for collecting the pension funds,” he said during a media briefing after cabinet meeting.
“These problems have existed for some time, but they have now been addressed. This is why the bill was passed and is being sent to the National Legislative Assembly for consideration,” he further said.
Lueth added the Pensions Fund Act 2012 Amendment Bill 2024, was developed by the National Constitutional Amendment Committee (NCAC), a body established by the peace agreement to align previous provisions of the constitution with those of the 2018 accord.
After the passing by the cabinet, the bill is now set for parliamentary debate and final passing to eventually become law.
Pension authorities came under scrutiny last year after a MP said the institution had been paying retired civil servants dues even the scheme has been functioning 2011.
In September 2024, Natalina Amjima Malek, a deputy chairperson of the standing specialized committee on Information, suggested for summoning of finance minister to the parliament to explain the ineffectiveness of the institution discharging its duties of serving retired civil servants.
