Undersecretary Majur ‘still delivering’ amid suspension

The Undersecretary in the Ministry of Health Dr Victoria Anib Majur, who was suspended last month by the Minister for Health Elizabeth Acuei Yol, could be staying put and going on with her duties.

On Tuesday, Eye Radio flashed pictures of Dr Majur enjoying a hearty moment in her office in the company of Paula Patrick Lumumba and Dr Busha Otom Rogo in what appeared to be an official engagement.

This was just days after she presided over an event in the ministry where she handed over a gift of appreciation to Trinity Energy for its support in the control of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Suspension reaffirmed

Late last month, the national Minister for Health, Elizabeth Acuei Yol, reaffirmed that Dr Majur was on active suspension, which ensued from the stalemate over her dismissal of Juba Teaching Hospital staff.

Acuei released a statement to stakeholders assuring them of the validity of the prior suspension and subsequently named her replacement, Dr Samson Baba Paul.

She directed Dr Baba to take over the mantle of the undersecretary docket forthwith as she ordered a three-month investigation into the controversial appointments that generated heat between her office and that of the vice president, Hussein Abdelbaggi.

Days later, the Bank of South Sudan turned down the request from the acting undersecretary, Dr Baba, when he requested to be added as a signatory to the ministry’s bank account.

But in a letter dated October 27, 2021, the First Deputy Governor for Policy and Banking of Bank of South Sudan, Johnny Ohisa Damlan redirected the acting Undersecretary to channel his request to the ministry of finance and planning which had the mandate to put changes in place.   

Stalemate

Following her suspension in October, and the rising tension within the ministry and the office of the Vice President for Service Cluster Hussein Abdelbagi Akol, President Salva Kiir directed the Security Advisor, Tut Gatluak Manime, to mediate the issue.

However, what transpired in the course of the resolution of the problem has not been known so far.

The stalemate came about when the Vice President for Service Cluster Hussein Abdelbagi directed Dr Majur to reshuffle workers in the ministry leading to significant changes in Juba Teaching Hospital.

Minster Acuei then revoked the changes arguing that it was unconstitutional and suspended Dr Majur over disobedience.