South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Benjamin Takpiny
President Salva Kiir Mayardit has instructed the newly appointed Minister of Finance and Planning Dr. Marial Dongrin Ater to implement measures to consolidate the collection of non-oil revenues in a single account.
The President’s directive comes at a time when oil revenues have plummeted due to the ongoing war in neighboring Sudan where the oil pipeline is located.
“The money from non-oil revenue is enough to pay people and to do everything, let us believe that you will do, because the money is collected and everyone has their own account and these accounts do not come to people, everyone will take money to their bosses whom they know, so I give you limited time and the solution will be you to have one single account because money is collected from the people. If you understand the issue l am sure we will not have any problem at all,” Kiir said during the swearing ceremony of Ater on Friday in Juba.
Kiir also expressed concern over the fact that civil servants have gone without salaries for about 9 months.
He emphasized to Ater the importance of transparency and accountability in revenue collection.
For his part, Ater expressed his gratitude to the President for entrusting him to serve the nation.
The newly appointed finance minister promised to meet immediately together with the larger economic cluster to urgently determine a realistic and viable action to address the economic crisis.
Ater was appointed on July 10, 2024 replacing Awow Daniel Chuang who was relieved in a presidential decree.
Chuang had served only for a period of four months since his appointment in March 2024. He is the sixth minister of finance and planning to be sacked by President Kiir since 2020.
