Chief Justice Chan Reec Madut - File Photo: Madrama James/Eye Radio

South Sudan’s Chief Justice has urged the Ministry of Public Services and Human Resource Development to address fictitious names and replacement of deceased civil servants in the payroll system.

Justice Chan Reec Madut was speaking during an event organized by the Ministry of Public Service and Human Resources ion Wednesday n Juba.

On Wednesday, the Ministry of Public Service and Human Resources launched a new Human Resource management information system to integrate the payroll system reforms.

Speaking during the event, Justice Chan says South Sudan is the only country where dead civil servants are replaced by their relatives in the government payroll.

He says it is the right time for the country to discuss such topics.

According to him, fictitious names were very common in the payroll system.

He also pointed out that some deceased government employees who died several years ago are still receiving salaries and others have been replaced by their relatives.

Justice Chan said the practices are not according to the law.

“Some people died several years ago, but their names remain on the pay sheets. Is that permissible? According to law, no. This is something you need to address,” Chan said.

“I think with this new payroll management system we will be able to cover such things, discover such mistakes,” he said.

“There is a practice of replacing dead people with their relatives. Somebody dies, and after some time the relative is brought to be in his place. Where does it happen? In the world. Only in South Sudan.”