-Government’s Initiative Aims to Boost Civil Servants’ Purchasing Power Amid Low Pay and Salary Delays
MONROVIA — The Liberian Government, under the leadership of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, is set to relaunch the Legal Power of Attorney (LPA) scheme, a long-standing civil servant payroll-based credit system, today, October 22, following years of decline. The initiative, which is more locally known among civil servants as “Liberia Pay After,” is aimed at supporting Liberia’s workforce. It will enable civil servants to purchase goods and services with costs deducted directly from their salaries.
The relaunch comes as part of broader efforts to strengthen civil servant welfare and improve access to essential goods for public employees, many of whom earn some of the lowest salaries in West Africa. Liberia employs approximately over 50,000 civil servants, with entry-level wages starting at US$150 per month. In recent years, payment delays and inconsistent disbursement of salaries have left many workers struggling to meet basic needs.
The LPA scheme, first widely utilized in the 1980s before being disrupted by the civil war in 1989, allowed civil servants to access goods and services on credit, with the cost deducted from their monthly salaries. The initiative was gradually phased out during the post-war recovery but has now been revived to address ongoing challenges faced by Liberia’s public workforce.
Under the program, participating civil servants will be able to acquire essential household goods, food items, and other necessities on credit. The repayments will be automatically deducted from their monthly salaries, providing a structured and secure mechanism for both workers and vendors.
Government officials have described the LPA as a crucial support system for Liberia’s public employees. “This initiative is about empowering our civil servants, who often receive very low pay and sometimes face delays in salary payments,” said a senior government official familiar with the program. “By relaunching the LPA, we are providing a safety net that allows them to meet their daily needs without falling into financial hardship.”
The program is expected to improve the purchasing power of Liberia’s civil servants, stabilize household consumption, and encourage local commerce. Vendors participating in the scheme will also benefit from reliable payment directly through the government payroll system, helping to boost confidence in trade with public employees.
The relaunch will take place tomorrow at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Congo Town, with President Boakai expected to deliver remarks highlighting the government’s commitment to civil servant welfare and broader economic reforms.
The revival of the LPA scheme represents a step toward restoring financial stability and dignity for Liberia’s public workforce, addressing systemic challenges that have persisted for decades, and providing a practical tool for daily survival for those at the lower end of the public pay scale.
