Governors forum urges coordination between states, national governments
December 2, 2024 (JUBA) – The 8th Governors forum in South Sudan successfully concluded on Monday with calls for proper coordination between the state and national governments.
Also addressed were issues of salary arrears and regular salary payment to public servants.
South Sudan’s First Vice President Riek Machar said all resolutions agreed upon were important.
“The debates and deliberations have helped us arrive at all these important resolutions,” he said, adding that many of these recommendations had been raised before, but were still significant.
The forum called for removal of illegal checkpoints and unauthorized tax collections along roads as well as the need for the establishment of wider civic and political space in the country.
Meanwhile Machar said the recent 400% salary increase were only for national civil servants.
He clarified that the salary increment did not apply to civil servants at the state and county levels.
“Some states overspent because they believed the 400% salary increase applied to all civil servants. When the Minister of Finance pointed out that some states had exceeded their budgets, it became clear that the increase was intended solely for national civil servants,” Machar told forum.
Meanwhile a civil society body welcomed the move to have the national security legislation reviewed.
The Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA) said the Bill be returned to Parliament for further deliberation to remove sections 13, 54, 55, and 57 as “they pose significant risks” to the population.
In July, South Sudanese lawmakers passed the controversial National Security Act 2014 (Amendment) Bill 2024, which gives the security agency the right to arrest suspected criminals without a warrant.
The lawmakers maintained the two contentious sections 54 and 55 of the Bill, which give the agency broad and unqualified powers.
“Freedom of peaceful assembly, freedom of expression, and freedom of association are fundamental rights that underpin democratic societies. These rights are essential for fostering an active and vibrant civil liberties enabling citizens to engage with the issues that affect their lives,” it said in a statement.
The entity further argued that human rights defenders, like others, be allowed to assemble peacefully.
(ST)