The University of Juba, the highest learning institution in South Sudan, has threatened to shut down unless the government pays the salary arrears of its tutors.
Lecturers are demanding two months’ worth of unpaid salaries, and have given the Ministry of Finance and Planning a six-day ultimatum to resolve the issue.
Failure to meet this deadline could result in the suspension of all learning activities, according to a resolution passed by the Dean’s Board at an extraordinary meeting on April 4.
“The Dean’s Board resolved to advise the administration of the University of Juba to suspend all learning activities should the Ministry of Finance and Planning fail to pay the salaries for the months of February and March 2023, by April 10, based on the adjusted unified salary structure for public institutions of higher learning,” it said.
“The government should look into this issue as soon as possible because we don’t want our lectures to be suspended and academic circular change,” warned one student, whose name has been withheld for security reasons.
Meanwhile, employees of the University of Bahr el Ghazal in South Sudan have also threatened to boycott work due to non-payment of two months’ salary arrears. The delayed payment of salaries has led to strikes at other public universities in the country.
“The staff, lecturers, and professors of the University of Juba should be paid so that the lecturers should go on as normal,” said one medical student, urging the government to release funds to cover the outstanding wages.
