By Bill W. Cooper
Several staffers of the Liberian Senate have raised alarming concerns over the deplorable state of the bathroom facilities within the Senate building, coupled with other challenges faced as employees.
The aggrieved employees have also described the conditions as not only unsanitary but also a serious health hazard, with calls for immediate action from the leadership of the Senate, headed by Grand Bassa County Senator, Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence as Pro-Tempore.
The staffers have further accused the Pro-Tempore Karnga-Lawrence and her colleagues of continuously neglecting their bathroom in a state of disarray, with overflowing toilets, broken fixtures, and a pervasive stench that makes them nearly unusable.
According to our Senate reporter, the situation has since led to widespread frustration among employees, who were seen in various corridors of the building voicing their grievances about the ‘bad’ working conditions.
The Liberian Senate is a body of the Legislature, which is the country’s first branch of government, housing 30 Senators, but despite huge budgetary allotment, staffers of the Senate continue to face significant challenges, including salary disparity, among others.
For last year (2024), US$63.8 million was spent on the entire Legislature, while US$44.3 million was also spent on the lawmakers as captured in the FY2025 budget, thus accumulating to US$108.2 million in a 2-year period.
Speaking to this paper based on anonymity for fear of retribution, one of the aggrieved staffers narrated, “My brother, “It’s embarrassing to work in a place where the bathrooms are in such a filthy state.”
“We are public servants, and we deserve to have a clean and safe environment to work in besides, our well-being is also keen, but again, we cannot publicly say these things because the Pro-Tempore had already threatened to take action against critical voices,” he noted.
The aggrieved staffers further described the bathrooms as “a breeding ground for germs”, lamenting that many employees have fallen ill due to the unsanitary condition and asserted, “We are constantly worried about our health. It’s not just about comfort; it’s about safety.”
Another affected employee also echoed these sentiments, stating, “We have raised these issues multiple times with our Pro-Tempore and the entire Senate leadership, but nothing seems to change. It feels like we are being ignored, and it’s disheartening.”
Meanwhile, the staffers further described the issues surrounding their bathroom facilities as symptomatic of a larger culture of neglect within the Senate, thus registering their feeling of being undervalued and mistreated, with little regard for their well-being.
They are at the same time calling for a swift intervention from the Senate leadership, including regular maintenance of bathroom facilities and improved working conditions, and stressed, “We want to see action because we are tired of empty promises.”
Also in sympathy with the staffers, exiled activist, Martin Kollie, called on the Senate leadership to treat their employees with dignity and respect, indicating, “This is a clear indication of the lack of respect for public servants in Liberia.”
“It is time that we all join hands in holding our leaders accountable for their actions, ensuring that they serve and prioritize the well-being of those who elected them to public office,” Kollie posted on his official Facebook post.