-Sets Higher Benchmark for Efficiency and Productivity
MONROVIA – As part of ongoing administrative reforms aimed at enhancing efficiency and productivity in the discharge of its statutory responsibilities, the Ministry of Public Works has begun a major restructuring of its county leadership, focusing primarily on Resident Engineers (REs), who serve as the Ministry’s highest-ranking officials in Liberia’s fifteen counties.
According to the Ministry, the move follows the implementation of its “Octopus Strategy” and is intended to strengthen supervision, accountability, and operational efficiency in the management of ongoing infrastructure activities nationwide.
Beyond supervising the construction of roads and bridges within the political subdivisions, the Ministry says Resident Engineers will now assume expanded responsibilities, including alley opening and surveillance operations, enforcement of construction permit regulations for new projects, and the establishment of fully functional county offices to support students seeking internship opportunities within the Ministry.
Making opening remarks during a meeting with the Resident Engineers, Public Works Minister Roland Lafayette Giddings welcomed the engineers and expressed appreciation for their service.
Minister Giddings disclosed that the restructuring forms part of the Ministry’s broader reform agenda based on recommendations arising from performance evaluations conducted across the counties.
He cautioned the Resident Engineers not to interpret the reform process as an attempt to target any specific individual or group, stressing that the initiative is focused on the strategic redeployment of technical expertise to areas where officers can perform more effectively and efficiently.
“I would like to encourage you to approach this process with an open mind, knowing that you could be retained, reassigned to a different county, or recalled to headquarters,” Minister Giddings stated.
“The Ministry has developed a policy that will henceforth guide our decisions regarding the duration of assignments, minimum qualifications and experience required, and the defined scope of operations within areas of assignment,” he added.
Improved Logistics and Increased Salaries
Meanwhile, Minister Giddings revealed that the Ministry has secured fifteen brand-new pickup trucks for deployment to Resident Engineers across the country as part of efforts to improve mobility and field operations.
He also announced a significant increase in monthly salaries for Resident Engineers, raising compensation from a minimum of US$250 to at least a gross monthly salary of US$1,000.
Additionally, Deputy Minister for Technical Services Prince D. Tambah, Sr. assured Resident Engineers that the Ministry will provide resettlement benefits for those reassigned to new counties as well as those recalled to headquarters for subsequent deployment.
Deputy Minister Tambah emphasized the importance of proper transition procedures, directing outgoing Resident Engineers to prepare comprehensive turnover notes for incoming officials within two weeks.
“To those of you who are fortunate to be named Resident Engineers, the Ministry will accept no excuses for not doing your jobs, as we have made significant efforts to create the necessary conditions for you to work as effectively as possible,” Tambah stated.
He further disclosed that Resident Engineers would work closely with the Presidential Yellow Machines Program, whose deployment to the counties is expected to begin next month.
According to the Deputy Minister, the Ministry has also approved the assignment of Assistant Resident Engineers in five key counties — Nimba, Margibi, Bong, Grand Bassa, and Lofa — in recognition of growing operational demands in those areas.
“We believe that with your increased scope of operation, having assistants to support you will not only reduce workloads, but also help the Ministry achieve greater results within reasonable timeframes,” Tambah noted.
Resident Engineers Welcome Reforms
Responding to the Ministry’s restructuring initiative, several Resident Engineers thanked the Ministry’s management team and reflected on years of operating under difficult conditions marked by low salaries, inadequate transportation, and limited logistical support.
They described the latest reforms as a major motivation mechanism that could unlock greater productivity, professionalism, and commitment within the Ministry’s county operations.
The restructuring exercise forms part of the Government’s broader effort to improve infrastructure delivery, decentralize public services, and strengthen road and bridge development across Liberia.
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