Vegetables on sale at Konyo-Konyo market - credit | Moyo Jacob/Eye Radio | April 19, 2022

An official of the Ministry of Finance and Planning said civil servants and organized forces will receive a two-month salary for July and August starting next week while warning that market prices will promptly shoot up.

For the last three months, the government workforce has not received salaries – a situation blamed on the delay in passing the fiscal year budget and the failure of some agencies to submit their reports on time.

Peter Ajang, Director General of the Ministry of Finance and Planning said all government workers will now receive the money for July and August starting on Monday.

“Next week, we will pay them two months’ salary, that is July and August. September and October will be paid together. That is what we are planning to do,” he told Eye Radio on Friday.

“The minister is trying his level best so that everybody receives their salaries. I came from there now and I can confirm that by next week, my salary will be out with the increment of 400 percent. That is good news for everybody.”

Ajang, however, argued that the release of salary often has a negative impact on exchange rates and commodity prices in the market.

“What we should expect is that the market will jump up. The prices have to go up or increase. Everybody is waiting for when are we receiving our salaries. When you hear that these people have received their salaries today, the same day the market prices jump up.”

He warned that “the prices in the market have already started jumping up. Therefore, we are going to face it whether we like it or not.”

On Monday, September 25, Finance Minister Dr. Bak Barnaba Chol apologized for the three-month salary delays saying the government workers will receive their dues in a few days.

Dr. Bak said at a press conference that the payment of salaries in accordance with the 400 percent increment was delayed because the budget was not approved on time.

The minister also attributed the salary setbacks to the alleged failure of some agencies to submit their reports to enable payment approval.