(JUBA) – Vice President and Chair of the Economic Cluster, Dr James Wani Igga, has called for urgent action to clear the country’s large backlog of civil service salaries and improve the delivery of public services, saying the matter can no longer be delayed.
Dr Igga made the remarks on Tuesday after taking oath as the First Deputy Chairman of the SPLM Party during a ceremony attended by President Salva Kiir and senior party officials. He said paying public workers on time is a basic state responsibility that must take priority over other political or administrative considerations.
He described the outstanding salary arrears as a burden on families and a growing strain on the economy, adding that the government must act quickly to restore confidence among civil servants and improve the delivery of essential services.
“Our immediate mandatory function is to pay the long delayed civil servants’ salaries along with the delivery of dire services to our citizens,” Dr Igga said. “Here, we must leave no stone unturned.”
Public workers in several sectors, including education, health, and local administration, have gone months without pay, contributing to rising household pressure and increased complaints about service gaps. With inflation and currency depreciation affecting daily living costs, civil servants say the delays have left them struggling to afford basic needs.
At Tuesday’s ceremony, President Salva Kiir Mayardit, who is also Chairman of the SPLM, urged party leaders to strengthen internal unity and deepen engagement with communities across the country as the SPLM prepares for the 2026 general elections. He encouraged senior officials to work closely with local structures and build momentum similar to the party’s broad support during the 2010 elections.
President Kiir said the SPLM must renew its commitment to its founding principles, pointing to the need for fair and accessible service delivery across all states and counties. He added that the party should focus on mobilising support within grassroots areas, where citizens expect visible improvements in public services and governance.
He urged SPLM members to reach out to their respective constituencies and rebuild trust through regular contact, political education, and attention to local concerns. According to officials at the event, the party intends to use the coming months to review its organisational structures and prepare for a nationwide mobilisation drive.
With the election approaching and salary arrears continuing to mount, both economic and political pressures remain high. Government officials have not provided a public timeline for when the outstanding payments will be cleared or how much is owed, though civil servants in several states say arrears stretch back many months.
The SPLM leadership says it is committed to improving service delivery in the lead up to the 2026 polls, though analysts note that salary delays and limited public services remain major challenges for the government and the ruling party as they prepare for the next electoral cycle.
Igga Demands Salary Clearances as SPLM Eyes 2026
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Key Issue | Unpaid civil servants’ salaries across multiple sectors |
| Igga’s Message | Salary arrears and services are an urgent government priority |
| Political Context | SPLM preparing for 2026 general elections |
| Kiir’s Focus | Party unity, grassroots mobilisation, service delivery |
| Public Impact | Workers face economic pressure due to prolonged delays |
| Event | Swearing in of Igga as First Deputy Chairman of SPLM |
