Tonj South County cannot be pocket by one Man
“Quotation from preliminary of Tonj South County Legislative Council report in relation to interaction with Tonj South County Authority on matters pertaining to County Affairs”
By: Morris Mabior Awikjokdit
Reporting Tonj South Community Bulletins
The rest of the five counties of Warrap State had realized the importance of peace and post Independence era through attaining reliable service delivery to its people but the fate of Tonj South County remain in total dilemma of corruption and personal development living public dream astray. The way my little skull understood the commissioner behaviors is quite different from other citizens of my marginalized county. I wondered whether Tonj South County is a personal property to be pocket by one man due to his own fix interests forgetting the public requirements. Institutional discrimination, sectionalism, corruption and nepotism have no visible colors.
I have learnt that, Tonj South county Legislative Council since it was incepted conducted two successfully meetings in which all the resolutions in both sitting were compiled and copies circulated to the office of Hon. Wol Mayom Bol, Commissioner of Tonj South County for further consideration. In line with Local Government Act 2009, Hon. County Legislative Council meet in its an extra- ordinary sitting NO.01/2014, NO.02/2014 and make resolutions which are passed and acted upon by the Hon. County Commissioner.
In two controversial separate sittings according to Mr. Nelson Manut Anyaardit, Chairperson of county legislative, Tonj South county legislative council wouldn’t obliged even the least to take this time and report few observations made during this short time spent in Tonj South County trying to implement Local Government Act 2009 which is a way forward to delivering required services to the people of Tonj South County. In this first instance, Tonj South County 10 months old commissioner has failed tremendously as head of the institutions to take legislative council as part of his success in achieving target of service delivery to the people of Tonj South County. This is evident in his reluctant to approve and passed proposals made by the legislative council in its two controversial separate preliminary sitting.
Tonj South county commissioner Mr. Wol Mayom Bol has failed to pass the following resolutions by county legislative council.
- Reduction in number of rate collectors in various sources of revenues collections in Tonj South County. The rate collectors who are in active duties in Tonj South County are above 30 in number and this is posting a serious challenge in controlling and utilizing resources. Some of the assigned rate collectors are not in the government payroll system and may be difficult to be counted in case of embezzlement.
- Random suspension of an administrative officer in person of Matong Makuek who was accused by the community of Thiet Payam of double standard and corruption. The legislative council sat and formed an independent committee to look into the corruption claim by community in Thiet Payam but the commissioner has been obstructing the suspension. The office of the legislative council suspended Mr. Matong Makuek as a member of the committee and not as an administrative officer. The committee has proposed the replacement of Mr. Matong Makuek with another viable and competent administrative officer from the rank of existing administrative officers in Tonj South County.
- Provision of refreshments to the legislative council. In its two controversial sittings, County Commissioner has never provided even a drop of water to the council and yet the council is supposed to work hand in hand with County Commissioner.
Tonj South County Commissioner’s actions are contradicting to the local government Act as Mr. Commissioner constantly work in isolation and do not want the legislative council to be part of County decision making. He continuously takes public assets and used them for his own private business and doesn’t entertain council mandate to ensure that public properties are respected. In the analysis of the above observations, Tonj South County is not a personal property to be pocket by one man like Mr. Wol Mayom Bol who wants to build Rome of Italy within period of ten months. What a hell leadership in Tonj South County. The alarming issues in question are as follows:-
- Two county generators have been taken from Kanaf and near the house of Anthony Bol Madut by the county commissioner and allocated them to his two homes at Padek (Ameth-cok) village Akucieng area and Yapango… currently Commissioner’s office does not have power and office documents are being processed in the market. Yet the public assets are being put into private use.
- Since Tonj South County legislative council was formed, there has been no indication of transparency and accountability especially in revenue collections. The council is overwhelmed by rapid personal development by the so- called County Commissioner who was always moving bar- feet and appointed anyhow without clear background. This is evident in the construction of bungalow with 6 bed rooms and 2 sitting rooms plus bathing rooms and kitchen at Kanaf, a house to his third grabbed wife Akuc Anyuon Pal, wife to late Malek Adiar Malek. The close and secret analysis carried out by the legislative council members’ show that the total cost for the construction including labor cost and other construction expenditures costs amount to 180,000 SSP (only one hundred and eighty thousand South Sudanese Pounds). On the other hand, Tonj South County Commissioner has other construction going on in his other two homes at Padek area of Thony Amou section and Yapango village within Tonj town with no clear explanation on the source of funds for his construction. His monthly salary of 10 months is not enough to cater for these three projects at once.
- Tonj South County Commissioner is demolishing old buildings at Kanaf and use the stones for old buildings for foundation of his own private houses. On the other, doors and windows for old buildings are being used to fix doors and windows of his homes in the village. He Commissioner Wol Mayom Bol does not consult the council for collective decision making in Tonj South County. Since Tonj South County legislative council was introduced, county commissioner has been dodging to meet with the councilors for the reasons best known to him.
- Tonj South County Commissioner has bought first class of land at Hella Jadit in Wau at 120,000 SSP (only one hundred and twenty thousand South Sudanese Pounds) for his own personal use.
- Two mobile network companies have leased the land in two different places in Tonj South County for installation of Vivacell and MTN mobile boosters. The money has been spent. This has been deliberately ignored by the commissioner. The total amount reported to have been received from Vivacell and MTN mobile network companies for land leasing is 33,600 SSP (only thirty three thousand six hundred South Sudanese pounds).
- Mysterious disappearance of CDF car in Tonj South County and step taken by the county council to locate the car is being obstructed by the county commissioner. The council was informed that the car was taken to Wau for major mechanical repair but they county council formed a three men committee to investigate and find out more details about the cost of the repair but commissioner decided to obstruct the committee from travelling to Wau to assess the car.
- Food intended for flood victims which was donated by the state authority never reached the intended beneficiaries instead it ended up in the house of the commissioner for family consumption. The whole food was used to feed the family of the commissioner and his closet allies. The food was stored in the house of the commissioner and other food items sold.
- Lastly but nevertheless, the two pick-up cars which were donated to the counties for security purposes by the state authority have been turned into private use by the county commissioner. They are being used to transport red bricks and both river and pit sands for construction in the house of the commissioner. On the other hand, the pickups are being used to transport fuel from places like Rumbek for business related activities.
- According to the Local Government Act 2009 section 83, the county budget proposal is supposed to be submitted to the County Legislative Council by June 30th every year so that the Hon. Legislative Council shall deliberate on it and it may be amended, rejected or adopted to the budget if it is deem appropriate and fit. Currently, Tonj South County Commissioner has been turning down Hon. Legislative Council Members request to meet him. So far, Legislative Council has not received any planned activities for this year. As of now, Legislative council members are being sidelined by the commissioner in matters pertaining development. For instance, there is a proposed budget for the completion of the new county office as commissioner’s office is bidding for vendors to apply for the advertised office completion projects yet the county Legislative council does not know the budget line for this project.
- Tonj South County has been one of the counties blessed with foreign interest especially the Korean project which is in fulfillment of late Father John Lee from South Korea who died 4 years ago while serving people of Tonj South County. After his death, his brothers initiated a project and named it “Smile Tonj Project” which is implementing education, health, and Agriculture but Tonj South County Commissioner is frustrating the project activities as he looted project items from Korea for his own personal use. Recently about 80 first class solar panels were brought from South Korea for the purpose of installing power for irrigation schemes in Tonj South County but county commissioner took 7 pieces of solar panels to his house. This has angered the people of South Korea and this project is on the verge of collapsing unless the solar panels are returned.
- There has been formation of local courts here which are not in line with Local Government Act 2009. This is purposely created to exploit vulnerable communities here in terms of court fees and membership fees which are above one thousand each.
- He the commissioner of Tonj South County always interfere with customary court trials by Judges and Local chiefs especially when his close relative is punished or convicted.
However, the coming of Acting Executive Director Mr. Malek Agei Jel has been appreciated by Tonj South County Legislative Council and the entire community but will the hungry commissioner allow him to work? There have been a bit of tremendous sense of Local Government activities in progress. Though interference by County Commissioner remain a stumbling block to the progress.
Lastly, the office of Tonj South County Legislative Council has a pleasure to ask Warrap State Ministry of Local Government to approve the request for auditors to come to Tonj South County to audit the young starving commissioner who wants get rich in 10 hours. Let us all pray to the lord in the bush of Tonj South so that almighty father inspired such hungry leaders with his wisdom so that they should lead us in a right way instead of looting our own resources without destination.
I wish the state authorities and state Legislative Assembly could make possible intervention to rescue the alarming situation in Tonj South County by forming the fact findings parliamentary committee to go down and investigate the corruption disease breeding in the area.
The author is a freelance opinion writer, professional teacher and a citizen of Tonj South by blood and origin. He can be reached by email: morrisawikjok@yahoo.com or contact: 0954243501, 0912646306
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