Staffers’ $557K Salaries Missing At The Senate, As Committee Sets Up To Probe

The leadership of the Liberian Senate is said to be puzzling over the mysterious disappearance of what is believed to be the salaries of staffers at the legislature in the amount of  Fifty-Seven Thousands United States Dollars, a situation that has compelled the leadership of the Liberian Senate to set up a committee to probe   the whereabouts of the alleged missing money.

As a result of the reported missing money at the legislature, particularly at the Liberian Senate, the Pro-Tempore of the Liberian Senate, Albert Chie has set up a three-man committee to investigate the matter.

Those named by the Pro-Tempore to launch the investigation include: Grand Gedeh County Senator, Alphonso Gaye; Chairman, Montserrado County Senator, Abraham Darius Dillon; member, and Bong County Senator, Dr. Henrique Tokoah; member. Meanwhile, the Pro-Tempore has urged the Senate Chairman on Ways, Means and Finance, Bomi County Senator, Morris Saytumah  to turn over the payroll of the staffers to the Senate.

The Pro-Tempore has meanwhile urged the committee to work harder in order to resolve the salary issue at the Capitol.

It can be recalled that employees at the Liberian Senate recently protested, claiming that over US$557,000.00 allocated in 2019/2020 national budget as their salary component has gone missing.

According to them, about 600 employees are affected by the salary arrears. The Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Samuel Tweah last week clarified at the Senate that his ministry did not temper with the salaries, allowance and other benefits of employees at the legislature.

He said the deduction was affected at other agencies, ministries and branches of government, but not from the legislature staffers.

With this latest development, the Chairman of Ways, Means and Finance, Senator Morris Saytumah will be in trouble, as report gathered alleged that he, Senator Saytumah has reportedly refused to turn over all financial records to the finance department at the Senate for reason best known to himself.

Investigation continues  .