Bill W. Cooper
Montserrado County Senator, Abraham Darius Dillon, has vowed to reintroduce a bill that would cap the monthly salary of government officials, both elected and appointed at US$5,000 or less upon his return to the country from China.
However, his disclosure comes amidst growing concerns over the exorbitant take-home salaries of some officials in State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), following a leaked document which exposed the salaries and other benefits of commissioners at the Liberia Telecommunication Authority (LTA).
The issue of high salaries for government officials has been a contentious one in Liberia for many years, with such hike in renumeration being observed during the previous administrations of Presidents Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and George Weah, with the Boakai administration being the latest.
Many critics, including struggling Liberians have all for years, argued that the salaries of government officials, particularly those in SOEs and the Legislature, are far too high and unsustainable, given the country’s struggling economy and high levels of poverty.
It can be recalled that Senator Dillon, who has been a vocal advocate for transparency and accountability in government, first introduced the bill to cap salaries at US$5,000 or less during the administration of former President George Weah. But the bill did not pass at the time, apparently because of his critical stands against the Weah led-government and his continuous outburst against his colleagues, ensuring that they reduce their salaries for the benefit of the country.
Now that Dillon is one of the key members of the Unity Party led – government, he is determined to reintroduce the bill, hopeful of its passage into law, amidst the allegations of huge take-home salaries at LTA.
With just a little over two months at the helm of the LTA, the Commissioners and the Chairperson of the entity have come under serious criticism due to the alleged huge take-home salaries at the detriment of the struggling masses.
Even though one of the Commissioners, Patrick Honnah, has since denied the allegation of earning US$15,000 monthly, describing it as false and misleading, investigations conducted by this paper established that the LTA Commissioners are said to be earning the gross salary of US7,861.00, leaving them with a net of US4,952.47, following necessary deductions.
As a result of the allegation, President Joseph Boakia has mandated the Bureau of State-Owned Enterprises (BSE) to investigate in an expeditious manner, reports of huge salaries being accrued by some officials of government at some SOEs.
But in response to the LTA’s controversy, Senator Dillon posted, “And so, it is time to reintroduce our Bill for enactment, seeking to set the monthly salary of Public Officials (elected and appointed) to US$5000 or less.”
“Yes! It is time and we shall do so immediately upon our return from Beijing, China. I drafted and submitted this Bill for enactment in 2020, but was suppressed under the CDC/Weah regime. We will again solicit the support of our colleagues as well as massive public support for the common good”, Dillon added.
The Montserrado County Senator furthered that the bill would apply to all government officials, including those in SOEs, and would help to ensure that public funds are being used responsibly and fairly.