South Sudan’s civil rights movement calls for 5000 percent salary increment

JUBA, SEPTEMBER 1, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – South Sudan’s civil rights organization, the People’s Coalition for Civil Action (PCCA), has called for a 5,000% salary adjustment for civil servants and soldiers.

In a statement extended to Sudans Post, the PCCA said that the current minimum wage of US$2.4 per month is not enough to live on, and that a 5,000% adjustment would bring the minimum wage to US$100 per month.

The PCCA said that the government can afford to pay the higher salaries, as it has found US$15 million to bribe parliamentarians into passing a fraudulent budget. The PCCA also said that the government has given each MP the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), which is essentially campaign money.

“In our view, US$100 per month is not an unreasonable demand. The people who serve our country deserve this money, and not the shadowy criminal syndicate that has captured our country and starving it of necessary resources needed to provide services to the people of South Sudan,” it said.

“If the government can find US$15 million to bribe the parliament into passing a fraudulent budget, it can find a US$100 per month for a soldier and for a civil servant.

“If the government can give a named individual so much money as to pay for the SPLM political rally in Wau, out of his personal pocket, it can find money to pay each soldier a US$100 per month.

“The US$15,000 given to each Member of Parliament can pay salary for 150 soldiers at US$100 for one month. Meanwhile US$15 million can pay a salary of 150,000 civil servants, or soldiers at US$100 per month.

“The MPs did not just get bribed with the US$15 million, they have also been given the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) added to the budget essentially as campaign money. The fund will not be used for the development of the constituencies.

“There are only 102 geographical constituencies in South Sudan according to 2010 general elections. Why is the money given to all the 550 MPs? The people of South Sudan are reading between the lines.

“The MPs have essentially cowered to the machinations of the shadowy criminal syndicates, and they are getting their hands oiled as well. They are looking out for their best interests at the expense of public employees and soldiers,” it added.

The group went on to call on civil servants and soldiers to reject the new budget and demand a 5,000% salary adjustment. The PCCA also called on civil society to mobilize in support of the salary adjustment.