Africa-Press – South-Sudan. Public frustration is mounting as civil servants and their families call on the Ministry of Finance to urgently release months of salary arrears. The appeal comes at a critical time, with parents facing the dual pressure of soaring food prices and the impending cost of school fees for the new academic year.
As schools across the country prepare to open next month, many government employees say they are in a “dire” financial position, unable to afford basic household necessities, let alone the education of their children.
Speaking on the Dawn radio show on Tuesday morning, citizens from across South Sudan described a worsening humanitarian crisis within their own homes.
Joseph, a resident of Juba, urged the newly appointed Minister of Finance to fulfil the payment promises made by the previous administration.
“We are calling for the new minister to pay arrears in cash. The situation in Juba is terrible. When you see the children in the houses, they are crying; there is nothing for them. If we are not given money, children will not be able to go to school. Between hunger and disease, we are calling for the National Government to act,” Joseph said.
In Wau, a caller identified as Lazarus expressed disbelief at the prolonged delays, highlighting the unique struggle of South Sudanese workers.
“The issue of salary has become a serious issue. There is no country where people working for the government suffer like this. We work, and yet we are not being paid. I have not witnessed this anywhere else. We are working for free,” he lamented.
For many, the primary concern is the reopening of schools in February. Without the payment of the reported four months of arrears, parents fear a generation of students may be left behind.
Albino, another caller from Juba, directed his appeal toward the leadership of the Ministry of Finance and the National Assembly.
“We have gone four months without salaries. We spent Christmas without pay, and now schools are reopening. When do they expect us to take our kids to school? We urge them to at least pay us urgently so we can meet these costs,” Albino stated.
The civil service remains the backbone of South Sudan’s administration, yet teachers, doctors, and security personnel continue to face protracted payment delays. Observers note that the lack of liquidity is not just a personal crisis for workers, but a threat to the stability of public institutions.
The callers collectively appealed to the national government to prioritize human dignity and the right to education by clearing all outstanding arrears before the school term begins.
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