South Sudan’s Juba University calls for end of strike

June 30, 2016 (JUBA) – Heads of schools from Juba University, the main public university in South Sudan, has issued a statement, calling on striking lecturers to end the strike. The striking lecturers have been demanding payment of arrears and other allowances.

The heads of schools, according to a 29 June statement obtained by Sudan Tribune, explained that the decision was made after the board of the deans of schools was forced to make a choice between closing the University indefinitely and asking students to go home or keeping the University open and completing the academic year.

The statement added that the board of the heads of schools found out that the basis of continuation of the strike was no longer justifiable after examining all facts and in light of the payment of 3 month salaries, thus decided to ask all the striking staff members and the students to report to their respective colleges and schools so that teaching can continue on full swing as of Tuesday 28 June, 2016.

The administration of the University of Juba said the cost of the strike to the government at the higher learning institution alone exceeded 15 million South Sudanese pounds of lost productivity.

“This is the longest and most costly staff strike ever in the history of the University of Juba since teaching began in 1977,” the statement reads in part.

“Given that the Ministry of Finance has paid the salaries for the months of March, April, and May; the Dean’s Board met with the Executive Committee of University of Juba Staff Association on Friday 24th June 2016,” it added.

But the acting secretary general and the spokesperson of the coalition emphasized in a separate interview that the group would not lift the strike until all their demands are met. Some of these key demands, according to Phillip Finish Apollo, include payment of tickets and medical allowances.

The issue of unpaid salaries, he argued, has never been central reason for the strike but a mere addition.

(ST)