University of Juba VC threatens to quit over delayed salary
The University of Juba, Vice Chancellor, Prof. John Akec, has threatened to resign if the government fails to pay his pending salary and those of university lecturers and staff.
The vocal don said that he is not afraid of joining the jobless corner, warning that he will be better off joining the highly unpredictable currency business if the government cannot pay him in time.
“I am going to give up my job and join the ranks of unemployed youth selling currency on our streets,” Prof. Akec warned on his ever-active Twitter page, Sunday.
The academician, who also went public about his salary, said he will resign from his position if the Ministry of Finance and Planning fails to pay him and the Juba University staff a new, improved salary by April 24, 2023.
“I am the highest-paid academician at the University of Juba, and I get a monthly gross salary of SSP 770,000, which is merely equivalent to $ 855 at the current exchange rate,” Akech said.
“If the Ministry of Finance and Planning fails to pay me and my staff the new, improved salary by April 26, 2023, I am going to give up my job and join the ranks of unemployed youth to sell currency on our streets because the finance ministry doesn’t value education,” he added.
On April 5, the Senate of the University of Juba met to deliberate on the delayed implementation of the approved new salary structure for public universities.
Two weeks ago, President Salva Kiir had directed the minister of finance and planning, Dr Dier Tong Ngor, to immediately clear outstanding salaries for public university lecturers after they threatened to go on strike.
This came after Kiir met with the minister for higher education, science, and technology, Gabriel Changson Chang.
Kiir directed the Ministry of Finance to pay February and March salary arrears and allowances owed to all public university staff, based on the current salary scale.
Staff at all six public universities across the country have not received their February and March, pay.
