Staff of agriculture ministry in N. Bahr el Ghazal strike over pay cut
By Hou Akot Hou
At least more 100 employees in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in Northern Bahr el Ghazal state have gone on strike after authorities cut their monthly salaries.
Dut Dut Chan, assistant mechanic in the ministry of agriculture, said their salaries for the month of July were reduced because the top authorities including the Governor of the Northern Bahr el Ghazal State were attending the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement convention to endorse President Salva Kiir in Wau town of Western Bahr el Ghazal State.
“We were told that 3rd and 4th July were public holidays as people were in Wau, so we didn’t come to work as many offices were closed. We were surprised when they cut our salaries. Why cut people’s salaries in such a manner,” Chan told Juba Echo.
He said the two days were public holidays granted to all state government employees.
“When we went to Wau for a conference they knew it and we wonder why they cut the money from June salaries and not on July salaries. They cut salaries for low-ranking staff including for watchmen,” Achol Wieu, another affected staff of the ministry of agriculture said.
She said they will not resume work until their grievances are addressed.
Jacob Maduok Akech, the chairperson for justice commission in the state, said that he got a circular from the state minister of agriculture explaining the reasons for the drastic salary cuts.
However, he noted that employees were entitled to full pay.
“When I got the complaint I consulted the director general of the ministry about the order from the minister of agriculture, and I asked him about the letter from the minister and he told me the two days were off days,” Akech said.
The state minister of agriculture is alleged to be a member of Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in opposition (SPLM-IO) led by Riek Machar, the first vice president in the transitional unity government, while the affected employees are supporters of the SPLM under President Salva Kiir.
