Liberian President Joseph Boakai has voluntarily slashed his salary by 40 percent in an effort to cut government spendings and ensure fiscal integrity and national financial security.
This announcement was made in a statement shared on the Liberian government website on Saturday.
“In fulfillment of his commitment to fiscal integrity and national financial security, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr.. has announced a voluntary 40% reduction in his salary,” the statement read.
This development follows some lawmakers arriving at the parliament in tricycles in protest against the non-payment of funds for their vehicles by the ministry of finance and development planning.
Boakai said the announcement reflects his position to lead by example in strengthening government accountability and demonstrating solidarity with the citizens.
“According to the President, the announcement reflects his determination to lead by example in strengthening government accountability and demonstrating solidarity with the people of the nation.
“The Liberian leader said the move is aimed at setting a precedent for responsible governance and nation-building,” the statement said.
Also in the statement, the president pledged to empower the Civil Service Agency (CSA) to ensure that public servants’ salaries are in line with the current state of the nation and that workers receive fair compensation for their contributions to the country.
Boakai had officially launched the Employee Status Regularisation Programme aimed at enhancing employment and payroll transparency and accountability within the government.
The programme represents a crucial step towards creating a more efficient, transparent and accountable civil service.
A statement from the Liberian President indicated that the newly launched ESRP involves a comprehensive employee headcount and physical verification exercise to identify and remove ghost names and unqualified individuals from the government’s payroll.
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The 79-year-old took the reins of power from the nation’s youngest-ever elected leader, George Weah in January in what was described as a generational shift.
Boakai is currently in Nigeria for the 63rd Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the ECOWAS.
