The Government of South Sudan collected substantial non-oil revenue. A welcome pivot from its dependence on crude exports in a country striving to rebuild and redefine its future.
Such strides in revenue collection should have provided a beacon of hope for the citizens especially civil servants and organized forces who have been hit hard with the current economic crisis. However, civil servants and organized forces remain unpaid for months.
This is not just a financial issue; it is a moral and governance crisis.
Civil servants and members of the organized forces are the backbone of government operations and national security. There commitment to duty despite the persistent instability and economic hardship is very commendable. Continuing to for discipline, loyalty and resilience without compensation tantamount to institutional failure and neglect.
This is a risk to national morale, public service delivery, and ultimately, peace itself.
What message does the government convey when it can collect substantial revenue but fails to fulfil its most basic: paying its workforce? This situation undermines public trust, weakens service delivery, and threatens national stability.
It is therefor imperative that the government prioritizes the disbursement of tangible salaries using the recently collected revenues to serve their most fundamental purpose: the welfare of the citizens and the sustenance of those who serve them.
Budgetary discipline and transparency must also be enforced to ensure that public resources are channeled where they are most needed starting with the livelihoods of those who sustain the state.
As inflation continues to hit hard and household incomes shrinking, delaying payments undermines livelihoods and fuels despair. Neglecting the citizens especially the organized forces who are the guardians of national stability invites uncertainty in a fragile landscape already burdened by insecurity.
South Sudan’s path forward lies in recognizing the unwavering dedication of its workforce. The recently collected revenue should be directed toward the most vital and urgent purpose: dignity through earned pay, stability by fulfilling commitments, and fostering progress through responsible governance.
It is time for fiscal discipline to deliver real relief to those who have borne the burden of the nation with quiet resolve and selfless endurance.
In times of economic hardship, the government must lead by example not just in words, but in action. Paying civil servants and security forces is not a favor. It is their right. It is also a step toward rebuilding a state that delivers for its people.