CSA, MFDP Slam In ‘Docket’

-As Huge Gov’t Wage Bill Disparities Raise Concern;  Senate Unleashes Probe

By Jackson C. Clay, Jr.

The plenary of the Liberian Senate has mandated its committees on Autonomous Agencies and Ways, Means Finance and Budget to probe what it calls the ‘huge wage bill disparities’ of the government within the public sector.

MFDP Samuel Tweah & Pro-Temp Chie

By Jackson C. Clay, Jr.

The plenary of the Liberian Senate which is the highest decision-making body of that august body reached the decision Thursday, January 17, 2019 in its regular session on Capitol Hill in Monrovia.

The Liberian Senate plenary made the decision following the reading of a communication filed by Grand Bassa County Senator, Jonathan L. Kaipay.

Senator Kaipay wants the full plenary of the Liberian Senate to invite the Minister of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), Samuel Tweah and the Director General of the Civil Service Agency (CSA) to address themselves to what he calls huge wage bill disparities within the public sector.

“I wish to request plenary to invite the Minister of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) and the Director General of the Civil Service Agency (CSA) to appear before this body. The purpose of the invitation, according to my research, is for the Minister and Director General to address themselves to the critical issues of huge wage bill disparities in the public sector of our country,” Senator Kaipay’s communication said.

Senator Kaipay indicated in his communication addressed to his colleagues that information in his possession has it that there are 73, 203 persons on the CSA wage bill, out of which 233 persons are presidential appointees and constitute US$105million monthly.

Also, the Grand Bassa County Senator’s communication further noted that 28,760 persons are receiving general allowance which according to him constitute US$13.57million monthly, thus, 44,210 persons are recognized as CSA employees and receiving basic salaries of US$7.3million respectively.

“I believe, unequivocally, that these disparities require clarification from the heads of two requisite institutions before this august body. Considering the current economic challenges faced by the Liberian people,” Senator Kaipay noted in his communication.

He asserted within his communication that the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC)-led government under the leadership of President George Weah must conscientiously and convincingly commit itself to promoting the Pro-Poor Agenda in the interest of all Liberians.

The Grand Bassa County Senator stated in his communication that he is of the strongest conviction that the equitable distribution or appropriation of wages and benefits for public servants, including government officials, remains a paramount concern under the agenda.

Meanwhile, the two committees are expected to peruse the communication and advise the full plenary of the Liberian Senate for further action within two weeks.