By Amos Harris
Liberia’s government wage bill has climbed to an estimated US$354 million in the proposed 2026 National Budget, intensifying scrutiny of fiscal discipline and transparency under the leadership of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai and Vice President Jeremiah Koung. This sharp increase has sparked significant controversy following allegations by former Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Samuel D. Tweah, that the Unity Party-led administration is concealing at least US$26 million in employee-related payments under a budget line labeled “Other Compensation.”
According to Tweah, these expenditures are being classified as “Goods and Services” rather than being reported under the internationally recognized “Compensation of Employees” category. Critics argue this practice distorts the true size of the government payroll and masks the actual cost of public sector labor. Speaking on a local radio station in Monrovia, Tweah contended that this reclassification undermines public accountability and contrasts sharply with the fiscal management of the previous Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) administration.
Data presented by the former minister shows a dramatic rise in Liberia’s wage bill over the past decade, growing from US$113.9 million in 2010 to the US$354 million projected for 2026. While the draft 2026 budget lists US$329 million under the standard compensation line (Budget Code 21), an additional US$26 million is reportedly embedded in “Other Compensation” (Budget Code 222123). This specific category is traditionally not intended for salaries and wages.
Fiscal analysts warn that shifting wage-related payments into secondary budget lines weakens legislative and public oversight, as scrutiny typically centers on the core compensation account. Furthermore, Tweah suggests that this practice could place Liberia at odds with commitments made to international partners, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF), to restrain payroll growth under ongoing economic reform programs.
Historical comparisons further heighten the controversy surrounding these figures. Under the CDC administration, spending on “Other Compensation” reportedly peaked at just over US$5 million in 2023 and averaged below US$200,000 in earlier years. By contrast, the current administration has elevated this line item into a major expenditure category within just two years of taking office. If these figures are accurate, total compensation spending has increased by more than US$43 million since the CDC left power—an increase that contradicts public claims by the Civil Service Agency (CSA) that the wage bill has been reduced.
Analysts reviewing long-term trends describe a recurring pattern of rapid growth under Unity Party administrations, followed by a flattening during the CDC’s tenure, and a renewed upward surge under the current Boakai-Koung “Rescue Mission.” The implication, they argue, is that UP-led governments have presided over faster payroll expansion without commensurate gains in transparency or worker welfare.
Despite the ballooning wage bill, many civil servants continue to report low salaries and stagnant living conditions, even as the Legislature debates a record US$1.2 billion national budget for 2026. In response, Tweah and other commentators are calling on the government to abolish the “Other Compensation” line and report all employee-related payments strictly under Code 21, in line with international public finance standards. They are also urging lawmakers to enforce these reforms during the mid-term review of the 2026 budget.
Journalists, economists, and civil society groups are being encouraged to closely track the disputed budget line and interrogate the data to ensure greater transparency. Additionally, critics are renewing calls for civil servants to demand the removal of the “harmonization” policy. Although the Unity Party previously criticized the policy while in opposition, it remains in force, raising further questions about the government’s genuine commitment to payroll reform and fairness in public sector compensation.
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