Unity State cuts 5 ministries in order to pay civil servants full salaries

By Bonifacio Taban Kuich

January 13, 2013 (BENTIU) – Parliamentarians in South Sudan’s oil-rich Unity State passed a resolution on 11 January downsizing the state government as part of austerity measures introduced after oil-production was shutdown last year due a transit fee dispute with Khartoum.

Unity State and the rest of South Sudan has been facing a financial crisis since the oil dispute began a year ago. A deal to resume exports through Sudan was signed in September, but has not been implemented due to security issues along the north-south border.

On Thursday, the state assembly, under Speaker Simon Maguek Gai, amended a resolution, together with the council of state ministers agreeing to reduce the number of state ministries from 15 to 10 and specialized committees from 14 to 10.

Speaker Gai said the decision was taken due to a shortfall in funds received by the state government. South Sudan’s government relied on oil production for 98% of its revenue before it abruptly halted production a year ago.

South Sudan accused Sudan of confiscating its oil entitlements worth about US$815m. Khartoum denied this but admitted it had taken some oil as payment for unpaid fees South Sudan owed it.

Until the shutdown, Unity State received an additional 2% of the oil revenues, in recognition that the state’s oil fields produced most of South Sudan’s crude. When South Sudan seceded in July 2011, it took with it 75% of Sudan’s oil production, but the necessary infrastructure needed to export oil to international markets remained in the north.

Following the closure, South Sudan announced that no civil servant salaries would be reduced. However, some states have resorted to cutting pay, including Unity State, where government employees had their pay cut by 25% in July last year.

Analysts point out that government salaries are the main method by which the South Sudanese state distributes wealth, with one salary often supporting many dependents. Development and infrastructure projects, as well as the provision of some public services bore the brunt of the cuts.

Decreasing the number of committees and specialised committees, the speaker told Sudan Tribune, would allow the government to return state employees to their previous salaries, reversing the deeply unpopular 25% cut.

James Buay Nyoch, a civil servant at Unity State’s Ministry of Education, which was not scrapped in the re-organisation, told Sudan Tribune he welcomed the decision.

The state parliament has ordered the Finance Ministry to pay civil servant’s their full salary for January at the end of this month. This decision, Unity State’s citizens say, has surprised many.

While the details of the new measures are still being worked out, Gai says the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Sport, the Ministry of Gender and Child Welfare, and the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and the commissioner of the state’s headquarters are among those earmarked to be merged with other ministries and departments.

The cut in the salaries of civil servants in July 2011 was introduced while state legislators were on recess. But after the state assembly opened in December last year, parliamentarians pressured the governor and the council of state ministers to reverse their decision.

The reshuffle also saw four county commissioners changed, with new figures appointed in Mayom, Leer, Panyijiar and Abiemnhom counties.

(ST)

The Unity State reshuffle in full

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Ministries

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Abolished ministries:

1. Ministry of Parliamentarian Affairs, its current responsibilities to be carried out by the Chief Whip of the State Legislative Assembly.
2. Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, its current responsibilities to be carried out by the State Ministry of Physical Infrastructure, Urban Development and Natural Resources.
3. Ministry of Gender and Child Welfare is taken back to the Ministry of Social Development, Gender and Child Welfare.
4. Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, its responsibilities to be carried out by the State Ministry of Information and Communication, Culture, Youth and Sport.
5. Commissioner of the State Head Quarter, its current responsibilities to be carried out by the Secretary General.

Newly structured ministries:

• Ministry of Local Government and Law Enforcement.
• Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Cooperative.
• Ministry of Finance, Trade and Industry
• Ministry of General Education and Instruction
• Ministry of Physical Infrastructure, Urban Development and Natural Resource.
• Ministry of Information, Communication, Culture, Youth and Sport
• Ministry of Social Development, Gender and Child Welfare.
• Ministry of Labour, Public Service and Human Resource Development
• Ministry of Animal Resource and Fishery

Relieved Director Generals as affected by the abolition of their respective ministries.

1. Mr. Malual Majok Chuol, Director General, Ministry of Parliamentarian Affairs.
2. Mr. James Galuak Liah, Director General, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources,
3. Mr. Gatjuet Ruai Wang, Director General, Ministry of Gender and Child Welfare
4. Mr. Zachariah Gai Dang Kulang, Director General, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport.

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Cabinet

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New Unity State Cabinet:

1. Lt. Gen. Taban Deng Gai, Governor of Unity State
2. Brig. Michael Chiangjiek Geay, Deputy Governor, Minister of Local Government and Law Enforcement
3. Col. Samuel Lony Geng, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry
4. Mr. Thomas Jal Thomas, Minister of Finance, Trade and Industry
5. Dr. Changkel Banak Riek, Minister of Health
6. Mr. Abraham Dak Turoal, Minister of Physical Infrastructure, Urban Development and Natural Resources
7. Mr. Joseph Arop Malual, Ministry of Information, Communication, Culture, Youth and Sport
8. Mrs. Innocent Lazurus Latjor , Minister of Labour, Public Service and Human Resource Development
9. Dr. Mariem Mut Toroah, Minister of Animal Resources and Fisheries
10. Mrs. Lubna Abddalgani Babakier, Minister of Social Development, Gender and Child Welfare
11. Angelo Chol Dong Wei, Minister of General Education and Instruction

Relieved ministers:

1. Col. Simon Jalduong Matuek, Minister of Physical Infrastructure and Urban Development
2. Mr. Abraham Dak Turoal Thac, Minister of Information and Communication
3. Stephen Pei Beliu, Minister of Environment and Natural Resource.
4. Mr. Joseph Arop Malual, Minister of Labour, Public Service & Human Resource Development.
5. Mrs. Innocent Lazurus Latjor, Minister of Gender and Child welfare.
6. Mrs. Nyaliep John Dak, Minister of Parliamentarian Affairs
7. Mrs. Rebecca Kur Nyikai, Minister of Social Development.
8. Mr. Thon Mabek Deng, Minister of Culture, Youth & Sport
9. Mr. Mayang Tiach Badeng, Commissioner of the Head Quarter

Appointed ministers:

1. Mr. Abraham Dak Turoal, Minister of Physical Infrastructure, Urban Development and Natural Resource, formerly minister of Information and Communication
2. Mr. Joseph Arop Malual, Minister of Information, Communication, Culture, Youth and Sport, formerly minister of Labour, public services and Human Resource Development
3. Mrs. Lubna Abddalgani Babakier, minister of Social Development, Gender and Child Welfare
4. Mrs. Innocent Lazurus Latjor Minister of Labour, Public Service and Human Resource Development formerly minister of Gender and Child welfare.

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State Advisory positions

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Newly structured State Advisory positions:

1. State Government Advisor on Service Affairs
2. State Government Advisor on Security Affairs.
3. State Government Advisor on Economic Affairs.
4. State Government Advisor on Peace and Political Affairs

Abolished Advisory Positions:

• Advisor for Health and Social Services,
• Advisor for Peace and Borders Relationship
• Advisor of Physical Infrastructure and Public Utilities
• Advisor on Education Affairs

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Advisors

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Newly Appointed and Re-appointed Advisors

1. Mr. Maniew Dak Gong, Advisor for Security Affairs
2. Col. Simon JaduongMatuek, State Government Advisor on Service Affairs
3. Mr. Thon Mabek Deng, State Government Advisor for peace and Political Affairs
4. Mrs. Rebecca Kur Nyakai, State Government Advisor on Economic Affairs

Newly-appointed Advisors are:

1. Col. Simon JaduongMatuek, State Government Advisor on Service Affairs
2. Mr. Thon Mabek Deng, State Government Advisor on Peace and Political Affairs
3. Mrs. Rebecca KurNyakai, State Government Advisor on Economic Affairs

Relieved State Advisors:

1. Mrs. Debora KurManyiel, State Advisor on Health and Social Service.
2. Mr. John Yak Jany, State Advisor on Political Affairs
3. Mr. Michael MayarMading, State Advisor on Economic Affairs
4. Mr. Wal Yang Wel, State Advisor for Physical Infrastructure and Public Utilities
5. John Gatluak Doar, State Advisor on Peace and Border Relationship
6. Ustaz. Wang MutLuony, State Advisor on Education Affairs

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Commissioners

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1. Col. James Pui Yak Yiel, Commissioner of Guit County
2. Capt. Majok Gadet Deng, Commissioner of Parieng County
3. Maj. John Bol Mayak, Commissioner of Mayom County
4. Mr. Simon Chuol Biel, Commissioner of Panyijiar County
5. Mr. Door Liah Diet , Commissioner of Leer County
6. Col. Eng. William Garjang Geng, Commissioner of Rubkona County
7. Mr. Arop Turuk Kuna, Commissioner of Abiemnom County
8. Major. John Chuol Wang, Commissioner of Koch County
9. Capt. Gideon Gatpan Thoar, Commissioner of Mayiendit County

Newly appointed Commissioners:

1. Major. John Bol Mayak, Commissioner of Mayom County
2. Mr. Door Liah Diet, Commissioner of Leer County
3. Mr. Simon Chuol Biel, Commissioner of Panyijiar County
4. Mr. Arop Turuk Kuna, Commissioner of Abiemnhom County

Relieved Commissioners:

1. Mr. Taker Riak Dong, Commissioner of Leer County
2. Brig. Peter Gai Joak, Commissioner of Panyijiar County
3. Brig. Martin Mashod Deng, Commissioner of Mayom County
4. Mr. Ajang Gide Yor, Commissioner of Abiemnhom County