Matia Samuel
Africa-Press – South-Sudan. The civil servants and the organized officers are poised for a smile after the members of parliament agreed to push for an increase in salaries by more than 400 per cent earlier proposed in the 2023–24 budget.
The national legislative assembly resolved to settle on an additional pay increase to civil servants, army and organized forces by SSP225 billion, in which Grade 17 will get SSP 53, 000, and a private soldier, SSP 61,000. This was done in the second reading of the proposed 2023-2024 budget yesterday in Juba
The proposed budget, which prioritises the increment of salaries and wages, was passed in totality from the second stage to third reading stage after serious deliberation with recommendations and observations.
All the parties to the agreement represented in the national legislature agreed that salary increments is compulsory, and the government needs to fix the structures.
The committee concluded that the 400 per cent increment provided in the budget by executive is not sufficient it suggested that the figure be increased by SSP 224 billion, stretching the wage bill to SSP 669 billion.
The committee recommended that adjustments in the allocations be made to ensure the implementation of salary increment without a problem.
The proposal is that around SSP 200 billion is to be chucked from the ministry of roads and bridges, SSP 6 billion from the peace budget, SSP 37 billion from contingency, and SSP 5 billion from presidential affairs. There is also SSP 7 billion to be acquired from the ministry of finance and planning.
Briefing the media after the second reading, the chairperson of the specialized committee of information John Agany said, “It’s the first time in the history of our country that all the members of parliament have come to an agreement that the budget of the organised forces and army must be a priority for the government.”
He said the increment must cut across all the employment contracts that have been rendered by the government to civil servants, organized forces, and the army.
“We hope that by so doing, we will be more peaceful in the Republic of South Sudan when we are receiving meaningful salaries.”
According to Agany, adjustments in the second reading was preliminary because the committee on finance and planning will go back and amend where necessary before the 3rd reading.
“It is still ongoing research, then within the few weeks to come, we will come to the conclusion that the cutting is final, and we will announce,” he said.
“What is so sure in this budget is that the budget structuring is the reality, the whole salary has to be increased without exception.”
Some of the recommendations from the finance committee in the assembly include ministry of finance and planning and allocating emergency response budget for the South Sudan National Police Services and Prisons.
For More News And Analysis About South-Sudan Follow Africa-Press
