[South Sudan] Workforce audit to tackle payroll irregularities launched

In South Sudan, parliament speaker Joseph Ngere Paciko has announced the launch of a staff screening exercise intended to improve administrative efficiency, strengthen accountability and streamline workforce management, Radio Tamazuj reports.

The Speaker will supervise the exercise together with the Second Deputy Speaker for Administration and Finance, Abuk Payiti, and Clerk to the Assembly Santino Deng.

According to a statement from the Speaker’s office, the screening will cover staff across all departments and support units, including cleaners and messengers, the information department, information and communications technology (ICT), Hansard, logistics and procurement, the parliamentary service commission, parliamentary caucus staff, drivers and administrative officers.

Mr Paciko reportedly told staff that the exercise aimed to establish an accurate record of employees within the institution. “This document was prepared to have details of everyone here,” he said.

The screening will verify appointments, confirm employment status, align job descriptions with the Assembly’s approved structure and determine the exact number of staff in each department for payroll management and planning purposes.

Bol Joseph Agau - an opposition lawmaker who represents the National Democratic Movement (NDM) - welcomed the exercise, stating that it could help address payroll irregularities and reduce fraud in public institutions.

Mr Agau reportedly said the screening had identified what he called an unusually high number of organised forces personnel attached to parliament, citing 371 members of the armed forces.

“The Speaker came to realise that there are 371 members of the armed forces within the Parliament. It is an alarming number,” he said.

He added that the issue had arisen from the accumulation of bodyguards assigned to officials who were not returned to their units after changes in deployment or the end of their principals’ tenure.

In addition, Mr Agau reportedly alleged that some individuals had used the system to secure positions for relatives and associates within the security services. He claimed there were instances of duplication across government payrolls.

“The government has been struggling to screen out ghost workers and duplicate records,” he said, concluding that the parliamentary exercise could serve as a model for wider public sector reforms.

Source: Radio Tamazuj

(Quotes via original reporting)

In South Sudan, parliament speaker Joseph Ngere Paciko has announced the launch of a staff screening exercise intended to improve administrative efficiency, strengthen accountability and streamline workforce management, Radio Tamazuj reports.

The Speaker will supervise the exercise together with the Second Deputy Speaker for Administration and Finance, Abuk Payiti, and Clerk to the Assembly Santino Deng.

According to a statement from the Speaker’s office, the screening will cover staff across all departments and support units, including cleaners and messengers, the information department, information and communications technology (ICT), Hansard, logistics and procurement, the parliamentary service commission, parliamentary caucus staff, drivers and administrative officers.

Mr Paciko reportedly told staff that the exercise aimed to establish an accurate record of employees within the institution. “This document was prepared to have details of everyone here,” he said.

The screening will verify appointments, confirm employment status, align job descriptions with the Assembly’s approved structure and determine the exact number of staff in each department for payroll management and planning purposes.

Bol Joseph Agau - an opposition lawmaker who represents the National Democratic Movement (NDM) - welcomed the exercise, stating that it could help address payroll irregularities and reduce fraud in public institutions.

Mr Agau reportedly said the screening had identified what he called an unusually high number of organised forces personnel attached to parliament, citing 371 members of the armed forces.

“The Speaker came to realise that there are 371 members of the armed forces within the Parliament. It is an alarming number,” he said.

He added that the issue had arisen from the accumulation of bodyguards assigned to officials who were not returned to their units after changes in deployment or the end of their principals’ tenure.

In addition, Mr Agau reportedly alleged that some individuals had used the system to secure positions for relatives and associates within the security services. He claimed there were instances of duplication across government payrolls.

“The government has been struggling to screen out ghost workers and duplicate records,” he said, concluding that the parliamentary exercise could serve as a model for wider public sector reforms.

Source: Radio Tamazuj

(Quotes via original reporting)