MONROVIA – In a concerning development for Liberia’s fight against corruption and economic crimes and human rights, staffers at the Office for the Establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court and Anti-Corruption Court has expressed intentions to initiate a go-slow action if urgent measures are not taken by the President and relevant stakeholders.
The President in Executive Order 148 committed 2m to be paid in 4 qtrs at 500k each.
Information from reliable sources says the Minister has not paid even the first quarter and is not interacting with the heads of the OWECC-L.
“So his initial argument of no money So he could only pay 500k for one quarter is on ice”
However, they claim that this amount is insufficient to cover basic services and salaries, leaving staff without pay for the last five months.
This situation threatens to undermine the progress made under the leadership of Executive Director Cllr. Dr. Jallah A. Barbue.
“How will the office run when we are not paid on time? The Minister of Finance and Development Planning has refused to sign the budget, which is adding to our frustrations,” one staff member lamented. “The $500,000 could assist in establishing the Anti-Corruption Court, but no action has been taken by the Minister.”
Frustrations run high among the staffers, They revealed that they have reached the end of their patience, warning that if the current situation persists, they may be compelled to take drastic actions to make their voices heard.
“How can we expect to fight against impunity when our basic needs are ignored?” they questioned.
The staffers have said that despite previous requests for a budget of $1 million, the Minister of Finance and Development Planning only approved $500,000, which they believe is inadequate. “We’ve prepared adjusted budgets, yet the funds are still being withheld.
All we see is reliance on credit from people, which should not be the case for a government institution,” another staff member added.
Some staff recounted how dire circumstances forced them to rely on personal credit to sustain operations, including running essential services like generators.
“We’ve been here before; it’s reminiscent of the months when OWECC-L staff were owed for seven months,” one staffer noted, highlighting a recurring issue of delayed payments.
When contacted for comment, Cllr. Dr. Jallah A. Barbue expressed that he was currently out of town on institutional matters but could not provide further details regarding the salary delays.
The situation remains tense as the staff await a response from the government. With the stakes high for Liberia’s commitment to tackling corruption and addressing war crimes, the coming days will be crucial for both the staff and the leadership of the country.
The hope is that an urgent resolution will avert a go-slow action that could significantly impact the ongoing efforts against impunity in Liberia.
