South Darfur state fails to pay employees monthly salaries
November 10, 2014 (NYALA) – The government of South Darfur state has failed to pay the monthly salaries of its employees for October due to budget deficit.
The state governor, Adam Jar al-Nabi, said his government continues to fail to make available the first chapter of the budget which amounts to 5 million Sudanese pounds (SDG), which always leads to delay the payment of salaries of government employees in ten localities.
Several government employees complained about the situation, holding the government responsible for the frequent delay of salary pay.
South Darfur state, which includes 21 locality and employs 28.000 employees, lost most of its revenues due to the volatile security situation.
Since last July, the government of South Darfur state imposed an indefinite emergency order, including a curfew in the capital Nyala from 7pm to 6am.
Armed guns used to assault banks and business stores in the state capital, besides attacks on civilian and commercial convoys.
The state also suffers from lack of development projects particularly the capital, Nyala which lives in almost permanent darkness due to power outages besides the severe shortage in drinking water and the poor health and education services.
Last August, teachers in South Darfur went on a three-week strike over salary arrears since 2007 which amounted to 41 million pounds (SDG). The strike was lifted upon firm pledges from the ministry of finance that teachers will receive 50% of their unpaid salaries by mid-October.
Last week, Khartoum-based European diplomats from France, Sweden, United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain visited South Darfur state where they met the governor and Darfur regional authority for talks on political, development and humanitarian areas.
During their presence in Nyala, the European Union (EU) ambassador to Sudan, Thomas Ulicny announced that the EU donated 11 million Euro to support development projects and humanitarian assistance in South Darfur state.
South Darfur state is witnessing a constitutional vacuum for more than a month after the governor was relieved of his position due to changes within the ruling National Congress Party (NCP).
(ST)