Lawmaker urges finance minister to resign over salary delay

JUBA – A South Sudanese member of parliament, Juol Nhomngek Daniel, representing Cueibet County in Lakes State, has voiced strong dissatisfaction over the persistent delay in the payment of salaries for civil servants and members of the organized forces.

In a scathing opinion piece published on Sudans Post on Friday, Daniel called on the Minister of Finance to either step down from his position or apologize and enhance his performance.

Daniel accused the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning of deliberate sabotage, suggesting ulterior motives behind the continuous withholding of salaries.

He raised concerns about the Minister’s inconsistency in public statements and the failure to prioritize essential expenditures, particularly the timely payment of government employees.

“The Minister is wrong as he should not take the people for granted and play with their psychology. It is wrong for the Minister to preach and promise the public something that does not exist. At least the Minister, as a representative of the Government, must be honest to maintain the trust of the public in the system.”

The parliamentarian highlighted the economic resources available to South Sudan, emphasizing that misallocation and the failure to invest in strategic sectors were contributing to the country’s poverty.

Daniel argued that the government’s inability to pay its workforce on time and adequately was a deliberate move by certain individuals to harm the government.

“Failure to pay civil servants, government officials, and the members of organized forces with living wage and on time without across South Sudan is the deliberate move from the beneficiaries of the system to harm the government.”

Daniel called for transparency in revealing the country’s financial status, urging the Minister to present an audited report on the national income as required by the constitution. He accused the Minister of acting inconsistently and violating citizens’ rights.

“The Minister of Finance always says one thing publicly and does completely different things practically. This is why it is not hard to come to the conclusion that the Minister is implementing the agenda of no pay to destroy the system.”

In conclusion, the lawmaker asserted that the economic crises faced by South Sudan were not solely external but rooted in human behavior within the government. He warned against the insurgency techniques at play, aiming to provoke public anger and uprising against the government.

“The Minister of Finance and Economic Planning failure to pay civil servants, public officials, and members of organized forces on time without clear reasons is a sabotage against the government. If the Minister believes in his integrity, then he has to resign or improve his style of management and begin paying civil servants, public officials, and civil servants.”

Daniel, who is a lawyer specializing in constitutional law and human rights, urged citizens to confront the system with truth and concrete actions to address the economic challenges facing the world’s youngest country.