By Laurina B. Lormia (Intern)
The Acting Director General of the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-information Service (LISGIS), Lawrence George, has sharply reacted to protesting temporary staff, saying that the institution is not aware of any unpaid benefits to date.
On Monday, December 4, 2023, several aggrieved temporary staff of LISGIS besieged the premises of the institution in demand of their 100 days arrears and other benefits owed them by LISGIS management, since the completion of the 2023 National Population and Housing Census across the country.
The temporary staff, predominantly male, during their protestation, disclosed that since they conducted the National Population and Housing Census, they are yet to receive their just benefits from LISGIS, as all efforts exerted have proven futile.
According to them, they worked for 100 days, from October 8 to January 16, 2022, noting that this is the first of its kind since LISGIS was established.
They called on the institution to make the necessary efforts in acquiring the amount of money needed to cover the payment of their benefits, threatening that if nothing is done about paying them, they will use various media outlets to demand attention to their plight.
They are calling on President-elect, Joseph Nyuma Boakai, to intervene on their behalf.
Reacting to the chaotic protestation, the Acting Director General of LISGIS, Lawrence George, said, “The funds in question have not reached LISGIS account, and I have no idea about said money which the temporary staff are claiming I have.’’
The Acting LISGIS boss said the temporary staff accused him of stealing money he has nothing to do with, adding that he should not be held liable for the money because the world bank has agreed to make the payment.
