Napoleon Adok Gai, the Director General of the National Communication Authority - Credit: Ministry of ICT and Postal Services

The National Communication Authority is set to audit employment in companies it licensed and revoke the work permit of contractors employing foreigners in a bid to bring employment to local youth, the Director General has said.

In 2022, South Sudan’s youth unemployment was estimated at 20 per cent, higher than both the regional 17% and income group 13% averages.

The female labour force participation was estimated at 76 per cent in the same year, higher than the regional 68% and income group 63% averages.

Napoleon Adok says, his institution will enforce orders to ensure young people get jobs to bring about positive changes.

He made the remarks during the coordination and streamlining meeting with all the state ministries of information and communication and mobile operators serving in the country in Juba on Tuesday.

“I have nothing against Ugandan or our East African friends, no, I have nothing against them. But I have lived in Kenya all my life, I have never found a Ugandan digging road in Nyeri. I have been in Uganda. I have never found a Rwandese building road in Jinja. We have nothing against them. They can work, and they have given us a lot of skills, but, even people digging sharia (road),” Adok said.

“I stopped those of fibre optic after I saw them digging fibre optic line from Wau. They took lots of youth from northern Uganda to go and dig between Warrap in that desert. I said, what is this now? How much are you paying these people? Is it something these people have rejected?

“We are going to enforce this together to get jobs for our youth. And when they see that this creates employment, things will change.

“I’ve been accused of being xenophobic, but actually, I’m just saying, no, we need to help to create jobs. Bring in those experts who have the knowledge to share, not those experts who are coming to take from us,” he said.

Adok went on to disclose his institution’s intent to audit employee employment in companies aligned with the National Communication Authority to ensure compliance with the national policies.

“We are going to put operators on a stand. I said the 2024 is going to be a year of enforcement. We are starting to audit employment in the operators, and anybody holding our license will present their work plan, who works for them, where, and how,” Adok said.

“Together with public service, we are going to revoke several works permits. It will be a lot of crying, but I need all of you to stand up,” he said.

“Professor Osuru told us that every year they are graduating hundreds of young people. Most of them end up in tea places. And we are responsible for that unemployment.

“Next time somebody shows up there to repair a generator from Tanzania, please ask him very carefully, are you the only one? If he’s there, there must be at least a South Sudanese being trained.

“We are going to start that smoke from Juba. And you will hear it. It will come. And I want you to support me because I know people who have worked with the network operators as consultants for the last ten years”.