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GOVERNANCE

UNITY STATE GOVERNMENT RESTRUCTURE

Austerity Measures Bite as Unity

State Downsizes Government

Unity State was receiving an additional two percent from the oil revenue as an oil producing
state but following the oil shutdown of 350,000 barrels per day, these funds have been halted
plunging the new nation into a financial crisis as 98 percent of the revenue was generated
by the oil sector. As Gurtong’s Unity State Correspondent Luk Riek Nyak reports, the austerity
measures the country embarked on is beginning to take a gigantic toll on the state adminis-
tration.

Unity State Governor Taban Deng Gai (middle) during the swearing in ceremony of the new state officials in January 2013. [Gurtong | Luk Riek Nyak]

The state leadership has been forced to January last year. The rejection of a ministries from 15 to 10 and specialized
downsize its civil servants, a crisis which salary cut prompted the government committees from 14 to 10,” announced
was sparked off by a proposed salary cut to rethink the standard of full pay. Hon. Simon Maguek Gai, the State
of 25 percent, which was approved by Ministers and County Commissioners Legislative Speaker.
the State Cabinet but was unanimously were summoned by the parliament to Gai said the decision was reached due
rejected by the State Legislative Assembly. report their monthly tax income and to a deficit in the funds received by the
The downsizing of the government is how it was spent. state government.
aimed at curbing the financial crisis “We have discussed the issues with The State Governor, Taban Deng Gai,
which the country has experienced, the Council of State Ministers and earlier advised the State civil servants
resulting from the oil shutdown in agreed to reduce the number of state

18 | Gurtong Focus Monthly February 2013