The teachers in Jonglei State on Friday locked the gate of the Ministry of Finance in protest against deactivation of the teachers’ union account.
Teachers say they protest after they learned that the state finance ministry has created a new account that will be managed by the state without their accessibility.
The protesting teachers accused the state government of planning to interfere with their salary by creating differently account.
The deactivated account, according to the teachers, was managed by the teachers’ union and state Ministry of Education.
Speaking on behalf of the protesting teachers, John Deng Ajith, the interim chairperson for Jonglei State Teachers’ Union, said they will not call off the protest until the issue is resolved.
“We will remain on strike until there is a solution from Jonglei State government. Secondly, we demand cancellation of creation of block account. Thirdly, our salaries as teachers will be directed to our [old] account,” Deng told Mingkaman FM.
Mingkaman FM contacted Jonglei State acting governor, John Samuel Manyuon, and the Minister of Information Nyadak John, who both declined to comment.
Since 2022, Jonglei State workers union and the government have been in conflict over salary payment in the state capital Bor witnessed series of peaceful protests.
However, on February 9, 2022, protests turned violent when the governor’s security opened fire on protesters, leaving 11 people injured.