![South Sudan information minister Michael Makuei Lueth speaking during a press conference in Juba on Tuesday, February 21st 2023. [Photo by Sudans Post]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/IMG_7713.jpg?resize=1024%2C673&ssl=1)
Lawmakers representing the SPLM-IO in the peace parliament last week walked out as the house was about to deliberate on the 2023-2024 fiscal budget. This was after a demand by the SPLM-IO for increase of civil servants’ salaries by 600% was turned down by the newly appointed minister of finance.
Speaking to reporters in Juba on Tuesday, Makuei accused the SPLM-IO of deceiving citizens over the salary structure row and said that the main armed opposition group was the only party that objected to the government’s option of increasing salaries by 400% until another review in five months’ time.
Makuei said that the SPLM-IO was playing a “game” to deceive the people of South Sudan. He said that they were trying to make it seem like they were the only party that cared about the people, when in reality, all of the parties had agreed to the proposed 400 percent increase proposed by the minister of finance.
“The SSOA talked, and they stood with the minister of finance, OPP talked, and they stood with the minister of finance, SPLM talked, and they stood with the minister of finance. Only the [SPLM-IO] objected, and not only that, the [SPLM-IO] objected and threatened that if any change happens, then we will walk out,” he said.
“The game being played, and which led to the SPLM-IO walking out, is a clear game. They want to show the people or want to deceive the people of other political parties that we are the only people who are carrying for you. We are the only people who are caring for you and all the rest they don’t mind about your own livelihood,” he added.
“But did they care about the life of the people? Leave the livelihood. Which comes first, is it the life of the people or the livelihood?” he asked.
“So, they should not mislead people with the belief that if they raise the salary structure to 600%, then they will not gain the confidence of the people. No. They are deceiving the people of South Sudan,” he added.
Makuei, who is also the government spokesman, further concluded by saying that the SPLM-IO was not being realistic in its approach to the issues facing South Sudan.
“So, they should not mislead people with the believe that if they raise the salary structure to 600 percent, then they won’t the confidence of the people, no. They are deceiving the people of South Sudan.” #SouthSudan info minister Michael Makuei Lueth.#SSOT #MichaelMakueiLueth pic.twitter.com/mZbNvXMGeZ
— Sudans Post (@SudansPost) August 17, 2023
He said that they should not have walked out of the parliamentary debate, and that they should not have gone out and spread false information that they were the only party that cared about the people.
“They are not realistic to their approach to the issues of South Sudan and as such they should not have walked out and they should not have gone out and propagated that it is only they that are the ones who care about the people of South Sudan,” he said.
According to my little analysis on the above recent statement beings issued by the Minister of information that dismissed the recent matched out by IO parliamentarians members, to me it was a null and voice to the Government, since IO members in that particular institution are having a right to voice their concerns or rejected the bill which should be harmful to the citizens of South Sudan, to me I therefore pronounce this claim beings aired out by Government spokesperson as mere propaganda that goes against the right to the part who is now signatory to this peace agreement, let the so called Government be sincere to the peoples of this Country, it is not only for the IO to rejected this bill which is inconvenience to the citizens of this Country, but it would be continues to stance with the peoples once it has comes to the matters concerns to their well-beings in the Country I believe.
Furthermore, the recent controversial signed bill into laws by Country President, to me it could be something illegal once we go through our constitution, and recent peace accord in the Country, but the good thing we know which party capable to lead the peoples to their needed destiny.
I think SPLM-IO is the only Party looking for South Sudanese affairs. SPLM should claim that they are taking care of South Sudanese People without talking the affairs of people by increasing the salaries. If you could not accept to increase the mare increment of 600%, how comes that you will increase after 5 Month? what miracles are you going to do after 5 month. I think SPLM are joking with mind of South Sudanese people.