Africa-Press – South-Sudan. The council of ministers has approved more than SSP61 billion to adjust the salaries of lecturers in public universities to put an end to the recent discord from the dons.
The decision was reached on Friday after the minister of higher education, Changson Chang, tabled the proposed amount before the cabinet for consideration to have the problem addressed.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Michael Makuei, the minister of information, said the cabinet approved salary increments for teaching and non-teaching staff at public universities on the advice of technical personnel and the minister.
“It is worth noting that we approved payment of the increment in the salaries of lecturers and other support staff in universities and higher institutions of learning about three years ago, but with inflation things have gone far and they are requesting that their salaries be reconsidered,” he said.
He added that the government had to act on time to avoid losing the workforce to other countries.
“Bearing in mind that at present lectures in the Universities are people who are free to move out anywhere, our fear is that in case we don’t do anything, then definitely there will be a brain drain.”
According to Makuei, the money represents just two per cent of the budget and will be paid after the minister of finance and planning prepares a supplementary budget.
“The ministry of finance is directed to coordinate with the minister of higher education so that they can determine how best it can be included,” he said.
The response follows a recent strike from the universities of Upper Nile and Bahr el Ghazal, where dons were demanding payment on the new salary scale and other allowances.
Source: The City Review South Sudan
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