The Vice Chancellor of University of Juba Prof. John Akec Apuordit has threatened to resign from office, if the Ministry of Finance and Planning continues to delay salaries of university staff.
Akec said he will give up his job and join the ranks of unemployed youth on the street if salaries of his staff are not released by 26th April.
“If the MoFP fails to pay me and my staff the new improved salary by 26th April 2023, I am going to give up my job and join the ranks of unemployed youth to sell currency on our streets, because the MoFP doesn’t value education,” Akec said in a statement posted on his Facebook page on Saturday.
“As the highest-paid academic at UoJ, my monthly gross salary of SSP 770,000 is merely equivalent to $855 at the current exchange rate,” he added.
Akec said the ministry of finance doesn’t value education due to the fact it does not care about the welfare of university staff in all the five public universities.
On April 4th, the Senate of the University of Juba reached resolutions that called for the ministry of finance to effect payment of two-month salaries arrears within six- days, and also speedy review and implementation of the adjusted salary structures directed by President Salva Kiir.
The meeting also resolved that academic staff and non-teaching staff will lay down tools if their demands are not met.
President Salva Kiir Mayardit, who is the Chancellor of all public universities last week, ordered the ministry of finance to pay arrears of February and March and allowances to all public universities based on the older salary scale.
Last month, lecturers in the five public universities threatened to go on strike over delayed payment of salaries and allowances.
