Lecturers at the University of Juba have staged a strike over what they describe as unpaid arrears.

They are demanding allowances that were deducted during the austerity measures. All government institutions were affected by the move.

“We are claiming the arrears during the austerity measures of 2012- 2013,” said Philip Finish, acting Secretary at the university.

All the 8 allowances of the lecturers, including housing allowance, were deducted in 2012, according to the university body.

“We are the most affected because for the other ministries, they only deducted housing allowances. So it is not fair and we are claiming that one back,” he added.

The undersecretary at the ministry of Education, Michael Lopuke, says he is not aware of the strike.

In 2012, the government shut down its oil production, which provides 98% of overall revenues, in response to what it said was stealing of the oil by Khartoum as it passed through Sudan’s pipelines to its Red Sea port.

An accusation Khartoum rejected, claiming it acted in response to non-payment of transit fees by South Sudan.