Some aggrieved staffers of the Liberian Senate yesterday went viral on the grounds of the Capitol Building, the seat of the legislators; this time, with strong worded statements in demand of their 2o-month salaries owed them.
The aggrieved staffers blocked the entries leading to the Chambers of the Liberian Senate chanting a slogan: “No Session today. We are tired of empty promises. Our bosses lie a lot”.
Some staffers, some of whom were seen climbing through windows at the Senate switched off the power that provides electricity for the senate wing.
The action of the senate’s workers impeded the workings of the Senators, thereby compelling them to have an emergency meeting with some of the leaders of the aggrieved staffers, a situation that lasted for hours delaying yesterday’s session, the aggrieved staffers’ spokesperson, Charles Brown told legislative reporters after meeting with the leadership of the Liberian Senate.
Charles stated that the Senate’s leadership expressed concern over the incessant delays by them [senators] to settle the issue of money “Wahala” between them and their staffers.
During the meeting with the aggrieved staffers, the Senators again sought dialogue with the aggrieved folks but Charles Brown assured that there will be no session until their bosses pay their money.
According Charles Brown, the Senate’s leadership appealed to the aggrieved staffers to suspend their protest action briefly with a vow to meet them after yesterday’s session; an appeal spokesperson Brown told colleagues to accept.
“Senate will not work until we get our money. They appealed for us to suspend action now until after session. Leadership says, after session they will tell us how we are going to get our money,” Charles Brown told supporters.
Charles also revealed that he was told by leadership that they are going to write the Ministry of Finance to consider their past fiscal budget money covering 12 months to domestic debt to be paid by government since the fiscal period has elapsed.
As for the eight-month outstanding salaries, Charles quoted the Senate leadership again as saying, they were working on plans as to how to pay their money.
However, Charles said they [staffers] are not going to listen to Committee report anymore, noting that what they need from their bosses after session is how to address their arrear issue expeditiously.