ANC Official Blasts Lawmakers

By Alex Yomah
Cllr. Aloysius Toe, Secretary General of the opposition, Alternative National Congress (ANC) of Alexander B. Cummings, has heavily descended on members of the Liberian Legislature-describing them as insensitive to the plights of those who elected them.
Cllr. Toe, in an interview with reporters at his office yesterday, described members of the 54th Legislature, including ANC’s Chairperson, Senator Daniel Naathn and members of the party’s legislative caucus as economic criminals- who he claimed are taking huge salaries and care less about the economic challenges.
“In this country, if a Speaker can pay himself over US$30,000 monthly and the health workers are making around US$200.00 then you are an economic criminal,” Cllr. Toe said.
According to him, if members of the Legislature use their power to astronomically inflate their allowances at the detriment of the people representing in parliament, then that can be equated to economic crimes.
Cllr. Toe said the law gives lawmakers to appropriate but it does not say, ‘enrich them’ particularly at the period where the economy is being devastated.
The ANC Secretary General explained that it is disheartening and appalling for some of the lawmakers who cannot even compose a common friendly letter would make US$15,000 while doctors who spent nine years in medical schools are paid US$2,000.
According to Cllr. Toe, members of the Legislature are using the law given them to appropriate fiscal budget at the detriment of the State, a decision he labeled as wickedness.
The former Activist what his disgusting is, Liberia, a country that is relying on the United States of America and other multilateral organizations for aids, is even paying the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Senate Pro-tempore more than the President of the United States.
He said, if this country is to be developed, then officials of government have to change the usual mentality and prioritize directing more of the country’s money into social service delivery.
“We have a situation where Senate Pro-tempore makes more money than the President of the United States.” For instance, he said, US President makes US$400,000 annually which is equivalent to US$33,000 monthly.
And in Liberia, Senate Pro-tempt, makes US$29,000 monthly in salaries. Out of the budget, he receives US$ 2,400 monthly for gasoline for the generator at home, US$3,000 for another gasoline for vehicle, receives US$900 monthly for internet, US$2,000 monthly for stationary, US$1,500 monthly just in case he wants to travel, he receives US$2, 500 monthly for plane ticket, US$6,000 yearly for constituency visits, another US$6,000 monthly for operations cost and among others.
“Our Speaker, Dr. Bhofal Chambers who is only qualified for presiding over plenary of the House of Representatives makes US$340,000 yearly and US$30,000 monthly,” he alleged.
Doing comparative analysis, Toe explained that the Speaker of the United States of America makes US$230,000 annually and US$19,000 monthly.
He called on his Party’s Chairperson in the Senate, Daniel Naathn and Thomas Goshuah, Yekeh Kolubah and all members of the collaborating opposition parties to join Senator Dillon to slice their allowances and benefits.
Toe informed that statistics showed that in spite of the economic problems, Liberia is the second highest paid lawmaker’s country in Africa, next to Nigeria, adding, “Our lawmakers are making close to members of the American Congress; yet, we are still behind in everything.”
Comparing Liberia and Sierra Leone, ANC said, Sierra Lone and Liberia fought war but today, Sierra Leone is far progressing than Liberia because they love their country.
The Lawyer said, Sierra Leone’s population is six million people while Liberia’s population is 4.2 million people. Providing statistics of both countries, Toe disclosed that Sierra Leone’s budget is US$600m plus and Liberia’s budget dropped to US$500m.
Dissecting both countries’ developmental priorities, Cllr. Toe said Sierra Leone’s recurrent budget {salary and wages] is 50% of the budget while Liberia with lower population recurrent budget is 86.6% of the national budget.
He also disclosed that Sierra Leone lawmaker makes US$2,800 which includes, salary and constituency visits fees- while in liberia a Representative makes US$14,0000 plus and a Senator makes US$15,000 plus including basic Civil Servant salaries.
Responding, on behalf of the Legislature, George Watkins, Director of Political Affairs, described ANC as a victim of politics of rejection and said the party’s platform has been distasteful to the voting populace and as such looking for an area to vent their angers.