N. Bahr el Ghazal governor makes changes in finance ministry
October 20, 2015 (JUBA)- The caretaker governor of South Sudan’s Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Akot Deng Akot, has replaced the director general of the ministry of finance, days after after he allegedly ordered the release of SSP 3.29 million for unexplained reasons.
Officials and sources with direct working knowledge attributed the cause to the leaking of financial information showing the caretaker governor had ordered the release of the SSP 3.29 million from the state treasury without seeking approval of the state council of ministers and state parliament. Many officials claimed the money may have been used to settle personal debts. Several state officials and MPs faulted the governor of allegedly ordering release of SSP653,000 from pension funds unexplained.
Others have made public several documents showing that Akot borrowed SSP 500,000 from Athian Aciec, a business man, allegedly to facilitate his swearing in occasion. Another official claimed Akot’s trip to Juba was facilitated by the state, yet he allegedly borrowed the money from individual businesses to be settled by the state government.
A former minister separately claimed the caretaker governor had cut SSP1.09 million from allowances and operational costs meant for all the various state ministries.
One document listing ministries affected by the directives shows that SSP 10, 500 were cut from the operational cost against the budget of the ministry of water and irrigation.
Other affected include SSP 100,000 from the ministry of health, 18,000 from agriculture, 7000 from the ministry of animal resources and 8,000 from rural and urban development.
Another document shows money for 10 employees from the state revenue authority was cut. 8 support staff of the state legislative assembly were also affected as well as 68 from the ministry of agriculture, 45 from the ministry of health, 36 from the ministry of sports, 16 from the ministry of trade and industry, 28 from the ministry of animal resources, 08 from the physical infrastructure, 38 from the ministry of local government and 39 from the ministry of social welfare in the state were affected. Other ministries whose employees were affected by the directives cutting the salaries included the ministry of water and irrigation from which 32 employees were not paid.
At least 12 employees from the ministry of labour and public services were also not paid. A former minister claimed the caretaker governor had directed the ministry of finance to detain payment from 30 officials affected by Nothern Bahr el Ghazal’s cabinet formation.
Sudan Tribune could not, however, verify the authenticity of all documents made public.
(ST)