(JUBA COUNTY) – The Governor of Central Equatoria State, Emmanuel Adil Anthony, has called on state secretariat staff to open bank accounts to enable the payment of salaries in line with national government guidelines, as the state continues to face economic pressure and delays in salary payments.
Governor Adil made the appeal on Tuesday during a meeting with classified and unclassified staff at the Central Equatoria State headquarters in Juba. The meeting was aimed at understanding staff working conditions and addressing concerns linked to welfare and outstanding salary arrears.
According to the State Government Press Unit, the governor urged civil servants to follow national instructions that require all public employees to receive their salaries through bank accounts. He said the system would help ensure that salaries are paid directly to staff and reduce problems linked to manual handling of payments.
Governor Adil acknowledged the difficult conditions faced by state employees and praised them for continuing to report to work despite long delays in salary payments. He told staff that efforts were underway through the relevant institutions to clear salary arrears and improve the reliability of the payment system.
The governor was accompanied by the Deputy Governor, Paulino Lukudu Obede, who also listened to staff concerns. Both leaders emphasised the importance of regular dialogue with civil servants as part of improving service delivery and restoring confidence in public institutions.
The engagement forms part of wider efforts by the Central Equatoria State leadership to strengthen governance and improve administration at a time when many public servants across South Sudan are affected by financial hardship.
On the same day, Governor Adil held a separate meeting with the leadership of the Revitalised State Transitional Legislative Assembly, led by the Acting Speaker, Salam Alhaj Babala. The discussion focused on plans to resume parliamentary sittings that have been delayed due to a prolonged recess.
Members of the assembly raised concerns that the delay in sittings has slowed debate and approval of important state bills and memoranda. They said this had affected the handling of key public issues that require legislative attention.
Governor Adil stressed the need for close cooperation between the executive and the legislature to ensure that government responsibilities are carried out effectively. He said coordinated action was necessary to respond to public needs, especially at the start of the new year.
The governor also encouraged lawmakers to take an active role in educating communities within their constituencies about the upcoming elections. He said early engagement with citizens would be important as the country moves closer to the electoral period.
Lawmakers present at the meeting expressed readiness to work closely with the executive branch. They reaffirmed their commitment to passing laws, representing public concerns and supporting the early resumption of parliamentary sittings in Central Equatoria State.
According to the State Government Press Unit, the discussions on salary payments and legislative work reflect ongoing efforts by state authorities to address administrative and governance challenges while maintaining essential public sector functions in Central Equatoria and South Sudan at large.
Summary of Key Developments
| Area | Key points |
|---|---|
| Salary payments | Staff urged to open bank accounts |
| Purpose | Improve transparency and direct payment |
| Current challenge | Salary arrears and economic pressure |
| Governance | Dialogue with staff and institutions |
| Legislature | Plans to resume parliamentary sittings |
| Broader goal | Strengthen public sector confidence |