South Sudanese Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Dr Marial Awou at a past event. [Gurtong | File]
By Waakhe Simon Wudu
JUBA, 22 August 2012 [Gurtong] - South Sudanese Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Dr Marial Awou said that the government has enough reserves to address its current economic challenges ruling out allegations that it is facing economic hardship.
“I know there has been some concern about salary payments because of the delay on July salary. I want to assure you that the delay of the payment has nothing to do with our financial situation,” Awou said.
Awou said that the appropriation bill needed the implementation of certain regulations passed by the parliament including making arrangements for the pay sheets of the allowances that is why the payment for the salaries delayed.
Civil servants have accused government for delaying their July salaries. The situation is hard for most of them given that the country faces inflation and prices of goods and services have increased.
The accusations also followed UN national staffs’ protest against their employers last week over what they term as “unfavorable terms” of service. The staffs had demanded to be paid in dollars raising concern that the economic hardships in the country are pinching.
The South Sudanese government early this year shut down her oil production accusing Khartoum of looting the resource. Oil contributed to over 90 percent of the government’s total revenue.
The oil shutdown forced the government to announce austerity measures.
Marial said government will continue operating under austerity measures until the oil production resume.