Governor defies President Kiir’s directive on civil servants

April 11, 2016 (JUBA) – The governor of South Sudan’s Eastern Nile state, Gen. Chol Thon Balok has defied the president’s order to reinstate civil servants formerly on Upper Nile state’s payroll.

The president office later issued a statement, denouncing the move as unacceptable and dividing people along ethnic lines. But governor Chol insisted his decision would hold.

“I have my budget. If there is anyone (civil servant) did not get his salary from other states (Western Nile and Latjor) and they are told their salaries are in Eastern Nile, I will say ‘no,'” said Chol, during one of his interactions with reporters in Juba on Sunday.

He said the division of state workers into three states was formulated by the three governors of the new state and that other states now receive monthly pays from Juba.

“The national ministry of finance knows my budget,” stressed governor Chol.

He however avoided answering questions on the directives from the presidency.

President Kiir expanded the country to 28 from the original 10 states in October, a move the armed opposition said was in violation of terms of peace agreement according to the opposition and peace partners. Another challenge to the two and half dozens states is budgeting, with some states spending three months without paying their staff.

But former states employees have divided up their staffs and spread across the states.

(ST)