Monrovia – An investigation by Verity News has obtained an internal memo granting full employment and a 10% salary increase to a few staff members, while the salaries of dozens of others, including long-serving staff, remain frozen. Several employees confirmed this to Verity News, expressing frustration.
An internal decision by the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) to convert certain contractors to full-time employees and grant them 10% salary increases has sparked discontent among staff, most of whom say they were previously informed that no pay adjustments were included in the institution’s 2026 budget due to the construction of LTA’s headquarters.
Details of the latest decision are contained in a February 16, 2026 internal memorandum addressed to Acting Chairperson Ben A. Fofana and signed by Human Resource Officer Beatrice K. Martol.
The memo, reviewed by Verity News, includes a spreadsheet listing contractors’ names, departments, proposed job titles and adjusted salaries.
Under the new regularization decision, contractors across several departments—including Administration, Operations and Legal—would receive the same 10 percent increase upon confirmation as permanent employees. For example, a contractor earning $900 per month would see their salary rise to $990, while another earning $1,150 would receive $1,265.
Staff Question Budget Priorities:
The move has drawn criticism from some employees who say management previously cited budget constraints and ongoing capital projects—particularly the construction of the Authority’s new headquarters in Lower Margibi County—as the reason salaries would remain unchanged this fiscal year.
“We were clearly informed that there would be no increment because the budget could not accommodate it,” one senior staff member told Verity News on condition of anonymity. “Now contractors are being regularized with automatic increases. That contradiction is difficult to understand.”
Several employees speaking to this paper, on conditions of anonymity, also claimed that some long-serving workers have remained on salaries as low as $500 per month for more than a decade without any adjustment made.
“This decision undermines morale. It is unfair. This is favoritism based on special interests,” another employee to Verity News. “People who have dedicated many years to this institution and public service in general are still at entry-level pay, while newly absorbed contractors receive increases.”
Transparency Concerns:
Beyond the pay disparities, employees have raised questions about aspects of the regularization list itself.
According to the February 16 memo, at least one entry is marked “TBA” (To Be Announced) under the proposed job title while still reflecting a salary allocation and the planned 10 percent increment. Some staff members allege that certain individuals listed are not currently active within the Authority.
“There are names without clearly defined roles, yet funds appear assigned,” one departmental source said. “That raises questions about transparency and adherence to public-sector employment standards.”
The LTA has not publicly disclosed the criteria used to determine which contractors are being regularized or whether the increases received formal approval from the Authority’s Board of Commissioners.
Workplace Climate Allegations
The salary issue also comes amid reports of internal workplace tensions. Multiple staff members alleged strained relations between employees and LTA Commissioner Angela Cassell Bush, citing what they described as confrontations during meetings and in office corridors.
“There is fear among staff about speaking openly,” one employee claimed.
Questions Over Resource Allocation:
Some employees also pointed to what they described as uneven allocation of institutional resources. While certain departments reportedly lack essential tools needed to improve efficiency and productivity, commissioners have undertaken extended international trips with daily subsistence allowances, according to internal sources.
“There are operational gaps that remain unaddressed. At the same time, travel budgets appear unaffected,” one staff member said.
LTA’s Response:
When contacted for comment, Acting Chairperson Ben A. Fofana denied the allegations, stating that the figures circulating internally were inaccurate.
According to him, the contractors in question earn between $400 and $500 per month—contrary to claims that their salaries range from $900 to $1,265. However, Verity News has a copy of an internal memo with a 10% increase; proposed adjusted salary from $990 to $1,265.
Fofana also described other allegations as unrealistic and said the Authority is open to media verification through documentary evidence.
Analysts Urge Transparency:
Public administration analysts say regularizing contractors can align with good governance practices when conducted transparently and within approved budget frameworks. However, they warn that inconsistent messaging on salary policies could damage staff confidence.
“If management communicates a salary freeze due to fiscal constraints but later authorizes increases for a specific group, it creates perceptions of inequity,” one analyst noted.
Employees are now calling for an internal review of the regularization process, the publication of selection criteria and clarification of the Authority’s salary policy for 2026.
The dispute highlights broader challenges facing public institutions as they attempt to balance infrastructure development with workforce morale and financial accountability.
