CEPO Director Edmund Yakani | Photo: Awan Moses/Eye Radio.

A civil society activist calls on the government to immediately release the months of salary arears for civil servants and organized forces, who have been working for free since August 2023.

Edmond Yakani, Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), said he urgently calls for intervention during the upcoming national cabinet meeting on Friday.

The call follows concerns raised by civil servants, including a member of parliament, who said even the legislators haven’t received their wages since August 2023.

Clement Juma, the Chairperson of South Sudan National Movement for Change, a signatory to the revitalized peace agreement said the Ministry of Finance failed to pay them their dues under unclear reasons.

Activist Yakani, meanwhile, lamented that civil servants have been deprived of their rightful salaries since August, leaving them and their families in a situation of economic hardship and uncertainty.

According to Yakani, failure to pay civil servants for their service does not only violate the basic principles of fair payment but also undermines the stability of these individuals’ lives.

He said the decision-makers should prioritize the payment of overdue salaries, adding that it is a matter of urgency and moral imperative.

“My appeal to the political leadership of the country is that; rescue the civil servant from the economic stress they are facing,” Yakani said.

“This is really a violation of workers’ rights. People have labor rights, and the labor rights mean a civil servant must be paid their salaries regularly.”

Yakani said the nature of the untimely payment of civil servants is “inhumane and disturbing.”

“Your Excellency President, I am appealing with due respect and honor. Direct the payment of civil servants whatever the case will be. Prioritize the payment of the delayed civil servant salaries since August until today on Friday Council of Ministries Meeting.”

The First Deputy Speaker of the National Parliament on December 4, 2023, questioned why civil servants are not being paid their salaries, arguing that the country receives “sufficient” oil and non-oil revenues.

Oyet Nathaniel said although there are some difficulties in the economy, it is not a justification to deprive civil servants of their payment.

According to him, salary is an unnegotiable right of every working citizen and must therefore be paid as outlined in the fiscal year budget 2023-2024.

The US Ambassador to South Sudan also reiterated calls on the transitional government to adopt transparent use of oil revenue for the benefit of its citizens.

Michael J. Adler said the country has enough resources while adding that it is unacceptable for the transitional government to allow civil servants to go for months without salaries.