University of Bahr el Ghazal campus - COURTESY

The academic and support staff of some public Universities on Tuesday confirmed receiving a one-month salary and allowance.

On December 13, the Minister of Finance and Planning announced that he would commence the payment of August salaries for public servants, organized forces, and foreign missions supposedly the following day.

Dr Bak Barnaba Chol said the ministry prioritized the welfare of the citizens as he worked on the timely payment of salaries.

But the process was delayed, prompting public university lecturers to call on the Finance and Planning Minister to live up to his promise.

When contacted by Eye Radio, the Chairperson of the Workers Trade Union of the University of Bahr el Ghazal, Rabie Adam Hamed confirmed to Eye Radio the staff started receiving the payment including a two-month arears.

But this is short of the three-month arrears they demanded.

“Regarding salary, there was a meeting that took place at the Ministry of Finance in Juba, and there was some commitment that they would address the issue of arrears by paying two months instead of three months, then they will bring the salary of August,” Adam told Eye Radio on Tuesday from Wau town.

“We waited until yesterday when they transferred the money for one month’s salary and one-month arrears, but it was two-month arrears, and now staff are receiving at university,” he said.

Dr. Shadad Wani, the associate Professor and Dean of Forestry Faculty at the Upper Nile University also confirmed the payment of the salary arrears.

“We started the exam yesterday because we have confirmed information that the university has received one month’s salary and two-month arrears, that is the information we received from the finance administration but the payment is not yet,” Dr Shadad said.”