Liberian businessman George Kailondo has urged the government to reduce the salaries and benefits of officials, especially lawmakers, to free up funds for national development projects. According to Kailondo, a significant portion of Liberia’s national budget, approximately 80% of the 2026 $1.2 billion budget, is consumed by recurrent expenditures like government salaries.
In July 2024, Liberian President Joseph Boakai voluntarily cut his own salary by 40% as a step toward fiscal integrity and to show solidarity with the Liberian people. Despite this, concerns remain about the substantial salaries and benefits of other high-ranking officials and the overall impact on the national budget.
Kailondo’s call specifically focuses on lawmakers and other government officials who receive substantial salaries and benefits.
He advocated for ending wasteful spending, such as the purchase of expensive vehicles, to reallocate money towards essential national development.
President Boakai’s salary cut echoes a similar move by his predecessor, George Weah, who implemented a 25% pay cut during his term.
The push for salary cuts comes amid intense public scrutiny of government spending and a rising cost of living in Liberia, where many people live on less than $2 a day. Public expectations for transparency and the redirection of savings toward tangible development projects are high.
