South Sudan pounds in bundles - courtesy

Some members of the public are urging the government to clear at least six months to one year’s worth of salary arrears owed to civil servants and members of the organized forces, arguing that the payment of only one month’s arrears is insufficient to ease the country’s worsening economic hardship.

On Tuesday, government spokesperson Ateny Wek Ateny announced that the Ministry of Finance had transferred funds equivalent to one month’s salary arrears into employees’ bank accounts.

The announcement has drawn mixed reactions, with many citizens saying the payment falls far short of addressing the prolonged salary backlog, rising cost of living, and persistent cash shortages affecting public servants across the country.

Speaking during Eye Radio’s Sundown program on Thursday, several callers expressed disappointment, saying one month’s arrears would have little impact on families struggling to meet basic needs, including food, transportation, and school fees.

Many appealed to the government to settle a substantial portion of the outstanding arrears to help relieve the financial burden facing civil servants and members of the organized forces.

One caller, identified only as Cicilia, questioned the government’s decision to release just one month’s arrears after nearly two years of delayed salary payments.

“I have heard that the government has released one month’s salary. Like seriously? Are these government officials not seeing the suffering of the citizens of South Sudan? For the last two years, only to be paid one month. How much is this one month? It is very little; it can’t do anything. They should have at least released arrears of six months or even one year,” she said.

Another caller, Kochiok from John Duru in Juba, said many employees remain uncertain about which month’s salary had been paid and from which fiscal year.

He argued that the payment was especially inadequate for soldiers earning between 30,000 and 40,000 South Sudanese Pounds per month.

“I don’t even know which month’s arrears have just been released or from which fiscal year. This is bad for a soldier who earns between 30,000 and 40,000 SSP. There are still many unpaid months. Let the government pay at least one year’s or six months’ arrears. It has now been two years without salaries while the economic crisis continues to worsen,” he said.

Another caller, Zenab Zachariah, said her one month’s salary had already been exhausted on transportation and household expenses, leaving her unable to pay school fees for her children.

“They think this one month’s salary arrears can do something, but I am sorry for them. My children have been sent home because of school fees. I need about 800,000 SSP, but my salary is only 85,000 SSP. I received it yesterday, spent 30,000 SSP on transport and another 50,000 SSP on food, and it is finished. If they have decided to pay, they should at least release six months’ arrears so we can clear school fees because our children’s future is important,” she said.

A community advisor from Bor South County in Jonglei State also called on the government to settle all outstanding salary arrears before the country heads to elections.

“We are now approaching elections. I thought the government would clear all the unpaid salary arrears from last year up to this year so that we begin a new chapter with the next elected government. The government should clear all the debts now,” the caller said.

Another caller, identified as Mama Maria, said the one-month payment was too small to make a meaningful difference, particularly for low-paid soldiers.

“What will this one month’s salary arrears do, especially for soldiers who earn 30,000 SSP? It can’t even buy enough soap for the children and the household. The government should have released at least six months’ arrears,” she said.