South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Jenifer James
The Human rights activist and Executive Director of Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA) Ter Manyang Gatwech has called on the government to stop the practice of turning routine civil servant salary payments into public announcements. He warns that these spectacles not only create anxiety but also obscure deeper issues in governance.
In a statement to the media, Gatwech explained that when the government announces civil servant payments, families expect the funds to cover essential expenses such as school fees and medical bills. However, civil servants typically receive only 50,000 to 100,000 South Sudanese pounds, an amount that falls significantly short, especially for larger families.
“Paying salaries is a basic government obligation, not a favor or achievement to be paraded in newspapers,” Gatwech said.
He criticized the practice as misleading and compared it to neighboring countries like Uganda and Kenya, where salary payments are handled quietly and privately.
“When meeting basic responsibilities becomes newsworthy, it signals how normalized failure and low expectations have become in our governance. Citizens deserve reliable services, timely salaries, and leadership that goes beyond the bare minimum,” gatwech added.
He urged the government to focus on improving public service delivery rather than making routine payments seem like major accomplishments.
In February, the government announced that the 24th of each month would be the fixed date for the disbursement of salaries to civil servants and organized forces.
This decision was reached during a meeting between President Salva Kiir Mayardit and Vice President for the Economic Cluster, Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel.
The meeting emphasized the need for timely salary payments starting in March. President Kiir’s discussion with Dr. Bol primarily focused on salary payments, aligning with Dr. Bol’s recent pledge to ensure timely disbursements following his appointment.
“Dr. Bol Mel stated that starting this March, salaries will be disbursed consistently on the 24th of every month, an essential step toward ensuring public service delivery, administrative efficiency, and economic reforms,” according to a statement from the President’s office.
