The call came after Governor Mahjoub Biel Turuk and his deputy, Atong Kuol Manyang, disagreed on how the USD 190,000 collected from Personal Income Tax (PIT) was spent.
Speaking to Sudans Post in an interview on Monday, Bol Deng Bol, chairperson of the Jonglei Civil Society Network, called on the two leaders to dialogue and address the matter as soon as possible before it turns into a political wrangle.
“We are so disappointed and condemn this manner of handling public and administrative affairs in the state, including running state activities outside the jurisdiction of the state, for instance in the recent case where the two principals held press conferences,” said Bol.
“Amidst all this political discordance, Jonglei Civil Society Network is appealing to His Excellency the Governor and Her Excellency the Deputy Governor to cease being extremely subjective and critical of each other,” Bol added.
He said the personal income taxes should be used for service delivery rather than being channeled to constitutional post-holders.
“Using these revenues as salaries or incentives for constitutional post-holders among other government officials—who are, by the way, in a government payroll—and for paying unnecessary rentals is unfair to the taxpayers and the citizens at large,” said Bol.
Outspoken activist urged state officials to be transparent in tax collection and allocations of state revenue.
“Citizens pay these taxes in anticipation of social services such as equipping and maintaining health facilities, constructing and rehabilitating road networks, and ensuring access to clean water and sanitation facilities,” said Bol.
He said the fund should be used to improve the health sector.
“The PIT should be used to end the overwhelming cholera outbreak that has claimed lives and affected over 400, and complete the construction of the fence of the Ministry of Health to improve the safety of patients and staff, among other things,” he said.