According to a statement issued Monday by the corporation, Athiei made the decision after conducting a comprehensive review of internal records, which revealed that several former heads of the institution had not received their statutory entitlements. In some cases, the reasons for the non-payment remain unclear due to gaps in past administrative records.
The Managing Director described the oversight as inconsistent with the standards of professionalism and leadership the corporation now seeks to uphold. He emphasised that failure to honour end-of-service benefits undermines both the dignity of leadership and the integrity of the institution.
“To rectify this, we are closing the chapter on administrative negligence,” Athiei said as quoted by the institution. “By honouring the service of those who led this institution before us, we are setting a standard of transparency and professional integrity that will define the future of Nilepet.”
He has formally instructed the Directorates of Human Resources and Finance to expedite the processing of all outstanding entitlements without delay.
The Managing Director did not specify the exact number of his predecessors, to whom the company owes end-of-service benefits, and how much they are owed.
The directive is expected to pave the way for the settlement of long-pending payments and restore confidence in the corporation’s internal governance systems.
The move is being viewed as part of a broader effort by Nilepet’s current leadership to strengthen compliance with statutory obligations, improve administrative efficiency, and promote accountability within the company.
Nilepet, South Sudan’s national oil company, plays a central role in the country’s petroleum sector. However, frequent administrative changes within the country’s oil and gas company have weakened the management, leading to critical oversights.
The institution has been criticised for mass staff recruitment, estimated at over 3000, with more than half having no job descriptions.
