By Alan Clement
Members of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) have agreed to summon the Minister of Defense and Veteran Affairs to answer questions regarding pensions.
A call followed reports of the institution’s failure to deliver pensions and entitlements to war veterans and retired soldiers amid worsening conditions.
The debate unfolded during the 11th ordinary sitting of the Assembly on Wednesday.
During the parliamentary sitting, Michael Tot Ruot Wei tabled a motion of urgent public importance concerning the living condition of war victims and veterans of the liberation struggle for South Sudan post-independence.
While presenting the motion, Tot also proposed the need for a “Veterans Liberation Struggle Fund,” which would serve as a financial lifeline for ex-combatants and war victims.
The motion also called for sweeping pension reforms, including transparent disbursement mechanisms, legal safeguards, and land allocation for veteran resettlement.
Lawmakers from across party lines rallied behind the proposal, framing it as a national imperative.
David Yen, a member of parliament representing Uror county decried the abandonment of martyrs’ families and wounded soldiers. He stated that, “Most of the children of veterans have no schools, no food, and no houses. They are liberators who sacrificed their lives, yet today they are forgotten by our government.”
He urged the government to conduct a nationwide audit of veterans and war victims across the ten states and three administrative areas to determine the scope of need and ensure pension coverage reaches all eligible beneficiaries. He also recommended the construction of low-cost housing for affected families.
Another member of parliament, Asha Kuei (Abyei Administrative Area, SPLM) pressed for stronger legal guarantees to ensure veterans receive their pensions and health benefits.
“Many of our comrades live with wounds, visible and invisible, and their families continue to carry the burden. We must pass a clear policy and legal framework so no one who sacrificed for this nation is left without pension, medical care, and education for their children,” she urged.
Other lawmakers spotlighted the poor service delivery at Juba Military Hospital, the main national Military referral hospital liking it to pension arrears.
“Soldiers and even children of fallen heroes are asked to pay for treatment, yet many go without salaries or pensions for months. How are they expected to afford care? The responsible ministries must be summoned to explain why pensions are not reaching those entitled,” James Duang declared to the August House.
Meanwhile, Stephen Ajou (Northern Bahr el Ghazal) suggested creating a dedicated ministry for veterans’ affairs to manage pensions and welfare services separately from the Ministry of Defense.
Speaker Jemma Nunu Kumba strongly backed the motion, stressing the urgent need to address veterans’ welfare and confirmed that the ministry od Defense and its subsidiaries will be summoned to appear before Parliament and clarify the status of support schemes.
Lawmakers warned that ongoing delays in pension payments and services undermine the legacy of the liberation struggle and fuel social injustice against those who served the nation.
Background
This year the Vice President in charge of the Economic Cluster, Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel, directed the immediate settlement of pension arrears amounting to SSP43 billion and USD75 million, accumulated between 2011 and 2023.
The directive followed a meeting to tackle challenges in the public service, focusing on pensions, payroll reform, and administrative integrity.
“This will bring long-overdue relief to retirees who dedicated their lives to public service at home and in foreign missions,” read a statement from the Office of the Vice President and Chair of the Economic Cluster.