Legal Counsels at the Ministry of Justice have complained that they have not been promoted for years now.

They say that a law enacted in 2008 to guide the ministry provides that councilors should have been promoted to different grades over the years.

30 counsellors raised this concern at the end of an English language course in Juba on Wednesday.

“It is regrettable to state here that promotions have not been implemented as provided for by section 47 of the Ministry of legal affairs and constitutional development organizational Act 2008,” said Jada Ngijak Lado, representative.

“All institutions in South Sudan had got their promotions except the Ministry of Justice. Why?”

However, the Minister of Justice, Paulino Wanawilla, said the promotions should be based on merits and available vacancies.

“If your promotion is overdue, we agree. But don’t just think that when you quote a section of the law in the Ministry of Justice you get promoted,” Mr Wanawilla argued.

“Promotion is also based on competence because when you are going up, it becomes a bottle neck; the positions become very few.”

The counsels also raised other complaints to the ministry, including absence of subsidiary regulations, an equal treatment with colleagues in the judiciary.

They also said that their privileges have been suspended since 2012, including paid leave, entertainment, reference allowances, uniform allowances and arrears of 18 months.