Filed in by Olando Testimony Zeongar – 0776819983/0880-361116/life2short4some@yahoo.com
MONROVIA, LIBERIA – Grand Bassa County Senator Jonathan Lambort Kaipay has alarmed over what he terms huge disparities in the wages being received by appointees of President George Weah, over others who are duly recognized employees of the Government of Liberia.
Senator Kaipay appears unhappy over the situation, for which he says he has made a research, and he’s demanding answers as to how there exists such huge disparities in the incentives of certain government employees, who are presidential appointees over others who are not.
In demand of answers to the effect, Senator Kaipay has written the Senate to invite the Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Samuel Tweah and the Director-General of the Civil Service Agency (CSA), Madam Laurine Wede Johnson to appear before the Plenary of the House of Senate.
According to Senator Kaipay’s communication, a copy of which has been obtained by Punch FM/TV’s Online Service, the purpose of his request to invite Minister Tweah and Director Johnson, is for the pair to address themselves to what he described as the critical issues of the huge wage bill disparities in the country’s public sector.
The Grand Bassa County lawmaker disclosed that according to information in his possession, there are 73,203 people on the CSA Wage Bill, indicating that out of this number, 233 persons are presidential appointees, who collectively receive a monthly wage payment amounting to US$ 1.5 million.
He noted that additionally, out of the CSA’s Wage Bill of a total of 73,203 government employees, some 28,760 people who are also presidential employees, are receiving “General Allowance” which constitutes a monthly net value of US$13.57 million, while at the same time, 44,210 others who are not presidential appointees but are duly recognized civil servants are just merely receiving “Basic Salaries” which constitute US$7.3 million on a monthly basis.
“Mr. Pro-Tempore and Distinguished Colleagues, I believe, unequivocally, that these disparities require clarification from the heads of the two requisite institutions before this August Body,” Senator Kaipay wrote.
He added that considering the current economic challenges being faced by the people of Liberia, the CDC-led government must conscientiously and convincingly commit itself to promoting the “The Pro-Poor Agenda” in the interest of all Liberians.
“I am therefore of the strongest conviction that the equitable distribution or appropriation of wages and benefits for public servants, including government officials, remain a paramount concern under the Agenda.” He emphasized.
