NSIF Seeks Vice Presidential Intervention in Budget Standoff

Enocka Martin June 30, 2026 2 min read

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(JUBA) – The new National Social Insurance Fund (NSIF) is facing a funding shortfall that has delayed its operations, six months after it was fully established, its management reported during a meeting with the Vice President on Tuesday.

The Fund’s Managing Director, Reech Ring Bol, presented a progress report to Vice President Hussein Abdelbagi Akol at his office. The Vice President also serves as Chairperson of the Service Cluster.

The Fund began operating in January 2026 following a Presidential Decree issued on 19th January.

The decree appointed the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the Board of Trustees, along with other board members from various institutions. It also named Reech Ring Bol as Managing Director and Secretary of the Board.

Since then, the Board of Trustees has held two meetings. The first took place on 19th February and the second on 26th June. These meetings led to the setting up of the Fund’s office, the approval of institutional policies and the hiring of professional staff.

The management told the Vice President that the Board approved an establishment budget during its first meeting in February. However, the funds have not yet been released. The matter remains pending at the Ministry of Finance and Planning, leaving the institution without financial resources to carry out its work.

The NSIF management asked the Vice President, in his role as Service Cluster Chairperson, to step in. They requested him to direct the Minister of Labour, the Minister of Finance and Planning and other relevant bodies to fully support the Fund in line with the NSIF Act of 2023.

The Vice President said the Service Cluster IS committed to backing the Fund and dealing with the problems it faces. He spoke of the importance of the institution in building social protection and bettering the welfare of workers across South Sudan.

The Vice President also promised to call a general meeting of all concerned institutions together with the NSIF leadership as soon as possible.