Lakes state civil servants hit with 10% salary cuts

July 21, 2014 (RUMBEK) – Lakes state caretaker governor, Maj. Gen. Matur Chut Dhuol has instructed the finance ministry to impose a 10% salary cut on ministry of public service staff who reportedly boycotted President Salva Kiir’s visit to the capital, Rumbek last week.

A ministry official, who preferred anonymity, said he only received SSP 208 (about $50) as June payment. The state government reportedly introduced compulsory tax, which has been in place since Matur was appointed caretaker governor in January 2012.

“The SPLM had been given 5% cut to each staff as net salary and those who did not to the airport or staffs who did not lineup at Bros and Company to welcome President Salva Kiir Mayardit to Rumbek in his last week visit were issued a 10% cut in their net salary of June”, said the official.

Lakes state minister of public service and human resource development, Dhieu Wal Takping, acknowledged the pay cuts, but said instructions given were “beyond his control”.

“Yes, pay cuts happened and those instructions of pay [the] cuts are from above and I cannot stop them”, he told Sudan Tribune.

The director general in the same ministry, however, clarified that only 48 staff out of 98 were affected by the June salary cuts.

“Out of 98 staffs in the ministry, only 48 staffs were affected and this pay cut were on instructions from above”, said Isaac Chol Dut.

In separate incident, inter-clan clashes between Rup and Nyang section at Nyangkot, left two people dead. The area is about 6km from Rumbek Central county.

“Yes, two people from Nyang section were killed by suspected attackers from Rup, but we have not yet capture anyone involved in this incident”, said an area police officer.

(ST)