After more than a decade of silence, the Government of South Sudan has finally addressed the long-standing issue of unpaid pension arrears, amounting to SSP 43 billion and USD 75 million accumulated since independence in 2011.
The announcement was made following a high-level meeting between Vice President and Chairperson of the Economic Cluster, Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel, and the National Minister of Public Service, Dak Duop Bichok.
Present at the meeting were also the Chairperson of the South Sudan Pension Fund Board of Trustees, Angelo Deng Rehan, and the Fund’s General Manager, Edward Yier Yier.
A statement released after the meeting confirmed that pension payments are expected to begin next month.
Dr. Bol issued a directive for the urgent settlement of arrears accrued between 2011 and 2023, calling it a long-overdue relief for retirees who served the nation both at home and abroad.
“The Vice President issued a directive for the urgent settlement of pension arrears accrued between 2011 and 2023, estimated at SSP 43 billion and USD 75 million. This will bring long overdue relief to retirees who dedicated their lives to public service at home and in foreign missions,” the statement read.
Speaking to the media, Minister Dak Duop acknowledged the critical importance of pensions in improving the lives of beneficiaries, saying “The pension fund is central and is being calculated at the national level.”
He also noted plans to introduce biometric registration to eliminate ghost names and ensure that only genuine retirees receive their dues. “Biometric is a good system to eliminate all the ghost names,” he emphasized.
To enhance transparency and accountability, Dr. Bol urged the pension administration to maintain fairness and uphold respect for senior citizens, calling on the Ministry of Finance to fully implement the directive requiring all government employees to open bank accounts, a crucial step toward curbing payroll fraud and increasing transparency.
“He [Dr. Bol] called for the full implementation of the Ministry of Finance’s directive requiring all government employees to open bank accounts, a vital step toward payroll transparency and eliminating irregularities,” the statement added.
Last month, Dr. Bol reaffirmed the government’s commitment to pay civil servants and organized forces regularly, every 24 months. However, this promise has been met with skepticism, as many civil servants have raised concerns, urging the government to turn words into action.
