I) National Budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026:
1) Liberia: US$1.2 billion
2) Rwanda: US$5.3 billion
3) Tanzania: US$24 billion
4) Botswana: US$7.5 billion
5) Sierra Leone: US$1.2 billion
II) Salaries of Lawmakers for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026:
1) Liberia: US$8,810
2) Rwanda: US$1,204
3) Tanzania: US$4,545
4) Botswana: US$3,518
5) Sierra Leone: US$810
Note: The cost of living in Rwanda, Tanzania, Botswana, and Sierra Leone is higher than in Liberia. In other words, it’s more expensive to live in these countries than to live in Liberia (head-to-head comparison). But senior public officials, including lawmakers in Liberia, earn far more amid high unemployment and poverty in Liberia.
Make this make sense.
On top of US$8,810 plus US$2,225 for gas, as attached, they got tens of thousands in benefits per person, including luxurious car, constituency visit, fuel for generator, vehicle maintenance, scholarships, sitting fees, legislative projects, scratch cards, furniture, etc. Note: They (lawmakers) have increased their gas coupon to US$3,000 per lawmaker, and they are even being paid for “yardboy”(US$358).
Meanwhile, civil servants, including teachers, health workers, security personnel, etc., ONLY receive US$150 without these same benefits. As attached, their “yardboys” earn far more than professional civil servants including teachers, health workers, security personnel, etc. Why is Liberia giving God hard time?
The “Big Shots” have US$45,000 air-conditioned cars each, but civil servants don’t have buses to commute. They have to use that same US$150 for transportation, house rent, food, clothes, LEC bills, water bills, children’s school fees, scratch cards, medical bills, etc. Can US$150 a whole month even cover even 10% of this cost? Push civil servants up to at least US$500 and bring all “Big Shots” down to at most US$5,000.
When almost all the money flows into the pockets of politicians, how will you develop the country and improve the lives of the people?
The suffering in Liberia is artificial. It is man-made.
This is a developing editorial.
