Reports gathered by this newspaper indicate that the crisis at the National Elections Commission (NEC) is due to the over 8 million United States Dollars that was reported to the Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning. Some Commissioners and staff are of the view that this should not have been reported, as some of the money should have been used to pay general allowances to staff.
The NEC had earlier reported that these savings were due to contributions from international development partners including the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the European Union (EU), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), African Union (AU), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), among others.
Meanwhile, in the wake of the suspension of NEC Chairperson Madam Davidetta Browne Lansanah by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, significant concerns, including allegations have been raised regarding the violation of administrative procedures by Co-chairperson, Cllr. P. Teplah Reeves, who claims she is now Acting Chairperson in the absent of suspended Browne Lansanah.
Within just two weeks of her assuming this position, Cllr. Reeves reportedly violated the New Elections Laws of Liberia.
The role of the Board of Commissioners is to design policies that are implemented by the Secretariat. However, this fundamental structure has been compromised since Cllr. Reeves “declared” herself the Acting Chairperson.
In one of the allegations that were made by some NEC staffers, who asked not to be named because of negative reprisals, Madam Reeves and co-Commissioners have failed to sign the letter of reprimand intended for the 25 reinstated staff members. When the Executive Mansion intervened in the fracas to resolve the continued protests at the NEC, one of the actions required of the NEC Board was to do a letter of reprimand to all the protesters especially to those who were fired and later reinstated. All 25 were to sign because the letter would have contained stipulations. It is widely believed that the commissioners are reluctant to sign this letter because they were the ones who initially directed these disruptive actions.
According to these NEC staffers, the environment within the NEC has become increasingly toxic. Staff members who did not participate in the alleged board-induced protest have encountered verbal abuses and intimidation from Madam Reeves and certain board members, resulting in a pervasive atmosphere of fear.
Some of the reinstated staff members usually congregate in front of the building rather than attending their offices, rendering them disengaged from their work responsibilities. Furthermore, Madam Reeves appears to be rewarding protesters with key roles in the upcoming by-election, exemplified by the appointment of ringleaders to the Steering Committee of the Nimba County Senatorial By-election.
The Co-chair has also allegedly reassured staffers who have been notified of their impending retirement at age 65 that they will not be retired this year. This action when taken will be in violation of the Executive Law.
Madam Reeves, along with some commissioners, have reportedly rewarded some protest leaders by revoking their transfers that were executed by the Commission over a year ago. This decision disregards the fundamental principle that transfers are designed to enhance administrative efficiencies within an institution.
Our sources indicated that this approach has led to increased confusion among the staff and has disrupted established workflows, overlapping duties and a lack of coherence in the implementation of activities. As a result, staff members are feeling uncertain about their roles and responsibilities, which are hindering overall productivity and collaboration within the NEC during this period.
“If these practices persist over the next month, the foundational integrity of the NEC, built over years of effort, will be irrevocably damaged. Immediate intervention is necessary to restore the Commission’s credibility and uphold the rule of law,” a staffer, who has stayed over 20 years at the Commission, told us.
But responding to these allegations, Co-chair Reeves terms all at “false and misleading”.
“Everything we do at the Commission, are done based on Board Resolution. Those who are telling you those things are surrogates of Davidetta.
According to her, when the Executive Mansion intervened to quiet the protest, the Board of Commissioners were given three mandates, including reinstating the 25 employees whose services were terminated; for them to do a letter of apology; “and they have done that letter it is with Minister [Sylvester] Grigsby.” There was nothing like letter of reprimand,” she quipped.
Cllr. P. Teplah Reeves, Co-Chairperson, National Elections Commission
Cllr. Reeves threw jibes at her suspended Chairperson and “surrogates” as being behind, what she termed as “negative stories against the NEC.”
Touching on an earlier story that was published in the Daily Observer {Payroll Overload at NEC Drains Gov’t Coffers} she retorted: “I have been at the Commission only 5 years. I didn’t employ anyone. I met all those people here. Davidetta alone brought in 37 persons. She just brought them in without going through the right processes. I met all of them here. But I don’t treat them differently. I am in the interests of all my employees, you can ask them.” She then went on to say that the suspended Chairperson “is walking on slippery slope”; adding: “Davidetta is not coming back here at the NEC, tell her I say so.” With that said she switched off her phone not before adding: “Anything else you want to know come to me at the Commission.”
The Liberia Electoral Management Body has received commendations for its conduct of the 2023 Presidential and Legislative Elections, not only from electoral contestants but also from the international community. Other countries in the region are now looking to learn from NEC Liberia.
