Lakes state suspends salary of more than 400 employees

August 28, 2013 (RUMBEK) – The government of Lakes State on the instruction of the governor has stopped payment of salaries of staff on study leave, medical leave and those on secondment to non-governmental organisations.

In a letter on Tuesday, Martin Maciec Kuc, the Lakes state Government Secretary General instructed all the Lakes State ministries to effect the directive. More than 400 people will be affected by the new directive.

“I am writing in reference to the directive Governor of Lakes state to suspend the salary of 474 employees who are on secondment, medical leave, studies leave, overspent, dead suspended/dismissal’’, read part of the Government Secretary General’s letter.

During the term of Chol Tong Mayay, the elected governor of Lakes State who was removed by Presidential decree, several staff were authorized by the council of ministers to go on study leave.

The appointed military caretaker governor, Maj. Gen. Matur Chut Dhuol ,did not provide reason for cancelling all leave approved by State Public Service ministry.

The money that should have gone to staff whose payment has been stopped will now be banked on a government account with Commercial Bank of Kenya (KCB).

The Lakes state ministry of Public Service did not make any comment following the governors orders.

In January, Lakes state’s new military caretaker governor, Maj. Gen. Matur Chut Dhuol, set out tough new reforms which he said would involve quelling insecurity and stopping staff who take leave to study abroad.

Dhuol’s critics have said under South Sudan’s interim constitution an election should have been held 60 days after the caretaker governor was appointed. This deadline passed on 21 March and no plans have been announced to hold an election before the 2015 national elections to the disappointment of some.

(ST)