By Waakhe Simon Wudu
JUBA, 26 September 2012 [Gurtong] - Chairperson Gabriel Mathiang clarified that the national parliament had debated and endorsed the austerity budget submitted by the Council of Ministers to have a 50 per cent cut on housing allowances of all employees.
The move to explain the cut follows several protests launched in some States by organised forces demanding for explanations on the allowance cut.
Protests were witnessed in Western Bar El Ghazal and Lakes states leading to injury to some employees.
He said the cuts included allowances of all the organised forces in the country including the National Police, Prison Service, Wildlife Service and Fire Brigades.
He pointed out that, employees should not misunderstand the new policy. It came to implementation after the President Salva Kiir had given his a go ahead for the implementation of the policy.
The commission also accused some politicians of misinforming employees about the cuts rather than clarifying as to how the cuts were made.
He called on the organised forces to maintain security and normalise the situation in the states, adding this is a call to cooperate and bear with the situation given the economic challenges facing the government and the people.
Reports indicate that there had been lack of proper sensitization to many states employees as to how the deductions on allowances are being done.
Some employees were receiving more allowances compared to their salaries and the cuts have significantly reduced their salaries.
There is ignorance among employees also as to the total monthly salaries and the different allowances expected.
Unconfirmed reports also indicate that, there have been unfair cuts done by the some states governments on the employee’s allowances thus raising the protests.
South Sudan after shutting down her oil wells early this year resorted to operating on austerity measures in a bid to utilise its resources cost effectively.
Oil revenues used to contribute to over 90 per cent of the government’s annual budget.
Sudan and South Sudan are currently locked in Addis Ababa for peace talks in a bid to strike a deal on post secession issues including resumption of oil production in South Sudan.
However, the South Sudanese Finance Minister Kosti Manibe last week told the press that the government will continue operating on austerity measures until the fiscal financial end of the financial year.