By Alan Clement
A Member of Parliament has called for urgent accountability from the country’s economic leadership, citing unfulfilled salary payment promises.
Speaking during the 15th ordinary sitting of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) on Monday, MP Machok Majong Jong accused Vice President Benjamin Bol Mel who is in-charge of the economic cluster for failing to deliver his promises.
Among the promises was the assurance to pay civil servant on 24th of every month.
“The country is facing difficulties, economic difficulties. There is no money in the bank,” Machok told the August house.
“And also, he has lied before the people of South Sudan by saying that on the 24th of every month, he is going to pay their salaries. And yet, we have not seen anything happen,” Machok continued.
The MP had submitted a motion on August 26, 2025 requesting Vice President Bol Mel, who chairs the economic cluster to appear before the House to explain the ongoing crisis.
He accused the Vice President and other top officials including the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Petroleum of mismanaging public resources and oil cargo allocations.
“I have classified documents with me; I’m not talking from just out of the blue. I have complete information from the up takers, and even from upstream, from the Minister of Petroleum,” Machok stated regarding the issue of mismanaging crude oil revenues.
In response, Deputy Speaker Parmena Awerial who presided over the sitting acknowledged the motion had already been raised and but deferred action until the Speaker of the Assembly, Dr. Jemma Nunu Kumba, returns.
“You have already raised a motion about this,” Awerial said. “I would like to answer him that the information that you raised and presented to ABC, you will be served with the resolution of ABC when the Rt. Hon Speaker comes back,” Awerial continued.
The remarks come amid growing public frustration over delayed salaries and economic instability.
Civil servants across the country have reported months of unpaid wages, despite repeated government assurances.
As pressure mounts, lawmakers and citizens alike await further action from the TNLA and the economic cluster leadership.
On February 21, 2025, Vice President and Chairperson of the Economic Cluster, Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel, pledged that salaries for public servants and members of the organized forces would be paid consistently on the 24th of every month.
VP Bol made the statement after a meeting President Salva Kiir.
“Salaries will be disbursed consistently on the 24th day of every month an essential step towards ensuring public service delivery, administrative efficiency, and economic reforms,” said Bol as quoted by Presidential press unit.
In March VP Bol announced the fulfillment of his commitment to timely salary payments for civil servants and organized forces.
However, the salary payment continues to face a lot of challenges.
The Central Bank and the Ministry of Finance claimed that the delay is due to liquidity crisis facing the country.
Despites the suffering of the government workforce, the solution to the current liquidity crisis continue to delay.