By Amos Harris
IPNEWS: The passage of Liberia’s largest national budget in history totaling US$1.2 billion for Fiscal Year 2026 has triggered growing public criticism following the government’s decision to maintain existing salary levels for civil servants, a move many Liberians say undermines claims of “people-centered governance.”
The controversy intensified after the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ways, Means, Finance and Budget, Senator Prince Kermue Moye, publicly defended lawmakers’ refusal to approve a general salary increment for civil servants
Arguing that payroll standardization and fairness must precede any wage increase.
While the budget’s historic size has been hailed as a milestone, civil servants across ministries and agencies say it offers little relief from rising living costs, inflation,
And economic hardship, particularly as no concrete timeline has been provided for when salary adjustments will actually take place.
Lawmakers Shift Responsibility to Executive, Senator Moye stressed that the Legislature does not have the unilateral authority to increase salaries,
Insisting that any salary increment must originate from the Executive Branch.
“Nothing has been discussed about salary increment for civil servants because we do not have the power to increase salaries,” the Senator noted, effectively shifting responsibility to the Boakai-Koung administration.
This position, however, has drawn sharp criticism from citizens and labor advocates who argue that both branches of government share responsibility for ensuring decent wages
Especially under a budget exceeding one billion dollars for the first time in Liberia’s history.
According to Senator Moye, lawmakers deliberately rejected a blanket salary increase in order to enforce the National Standardization and Remuneration Act of 2019.
He maintained that harmonizing salaries across government institutions and addressing payroll distortions was a higher priority.
He disclosed that thousands of long-serving volunteers including teachers, doctors, nurses, health workers, Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency officers and some Liberia National Police personnel were finally captured on the payroll under the FY 2026 budget.
While acknowledging that this move corrected longstanding injustices, critics argue that bringing unpaid workers onto payroll should not have been pursued at the expense of long-overdue salary adjustments for existing civil servants.
Public Frustration Mounts
Many Liberians say the government’s justification rings hollow, particularly given campaign promises made by the ruling Unity Party during the 2023 elections.
During the campaign, Unity Party leaders criticized the former CDC-led government over salary harmonization deductions, assuring civil servants that those measures would be removed once the party assumed power.
Two years into President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s administration, those promises remain unfulfilled, with civil servants still waiting.
“There is no impact on people’s lives if salary increases are pushed to 2027 or 2028,” one civil servant told this paper. “People are suffering now.”
Senator Moye warned that across-the-board salary increases without standardization would disproportionately benefit senior officials while doing little for low-income workers.
However, critics counter that the absence of any increment at all effectively freezes inequality in place
While lawmakers and high-ranking officials continue to enjoy comparatively better compensation and benefits.
The Senator also cited what he described as “uncontrollable payrolls” inherited by ministries and state-owned enterprises, saying they have strained government finances and revenue performance.
Governance Questions Persist
Despite assurances that a comprehensive salary increase is under consideration once fiscal space is created, many Liberians view the explanation as another delay tactic disconnected from daily realities.
Analysts argue that true “good governance” should balance payroll reform with tangible improvements in citizens’ lives, especially under a record-breaking budget.
As pressure mounts, attention is increasingly shifting to President Boakai, with civil servants and the general public waiting to see whether the Executive will act decisively to fulfill campaign promises and ease economic hardship.
For now, the US$1.2 billion budget stands as a historic figure on paper while thousands of civil servants say its benefits remain largely out of reach.
However, the Government of Liberia insists it would continue to prioritize salary standardization and regular payment over a blanket across-the-board increment for all civil servants.
Lawmakers rejected a “blanket salary increment” in late 2025 to prioritize standardizing pay across government institutions. The government’s policy is that pay must be brought on par for officials performing similar functions before general increases are considered.
As of 2025/2026, a minimum gross monthly salary of US$150 was established for central government employees. This adjustment targeted approximately 28,200 workers (about 45% of the workforce) who previously earned below this threshold.
Certain professionals have received specific raises in recent budget cycles:
- Healthcare: Monthly top-ups of US$50 for nurses, midwives, and physician assistants, and US$25–US$40 for other health workers.
- Security: Personnel in the Liberia National Police (LNP) and Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) were formally added to the official payroll in the FY 2026 budget to ensure consistent pay.
- Education: Over 9,000 teachers saw salary adjustments, ensuring no teacher makes below US$185 monthly.
- Timely Payments: The Civil Service Agency (CSA) has emphasized that for 2025 and moving into 2026, the government is no longer in arrears and is making monthly payments current, departing from past cultures of delayed salaries.
The Civil Servant Association of Liberia (CSAL) continues to press the National Legislature for a comprehensive salary increase for all public sector workers, arguing that current adjustments do not fully offset the impact of previous “harmonization” losses and rising inflation.
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