By Abraham K. Morris, Sr. Contributor
Bomi County Senator, Edwin Melvin Snowe, has demanded the government to immediately scrap the controversial “Salary Harmonization Policy” (SHP).
The policy was inherited from the previous administration, but Snowe wants it quash to instead, increase civil servant salaries.
He made the statement when he phoned-in on the “OK FM Moring Rush” Radio Program on Tuesday, November 11, 2025.
Analysts see the Snowe suggestion as a major political and financial crisis that would pit President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s ambitious infrastructure agenda against a powerful demand for immediate reversal of the “Salary Harmonization Policy” or “wage justice” for civil servants.
At the heart of the conflict is a record-breaking US$1.211 billion 2026 National Budget.
A significant portion of the budget hinges on a one-time US$200 million payment received from ArcelorMittal Liberia (AML).
The President has earmarked the entire US$200 million bonus for his “ARREST Agenda,” which centers on major long-term infrastructure and development projects.
The projects are roads and hospitals; key to government’s legacy.
Meanwhile, Sen. Snowe has thrown a wrench into this plan, demanding the government to immediately scrap the controversial SHP inherited from the George Weah-led administration.
The SHP severely cut the pay of over 9,000 plus civil servants, causing widespread financial hardship. Snowe argues that reversing these cuts is a non-negotiable matter of “wage justice” and fulfills a core 2023 Unity Party campaign promise.
Sen. Snowe’s demand presents the Boakai administration with an immediate and painful financial dilemma of infrastructure development by the use of the US$200 million bonus entirely for roads, hospitals and long-term national development projects or diversion of the US$200 million bonus to immediately restore the full salaries of the affected 9,000 plus civil servants.
If the government chooses the SHP reversal; with the US$200 million funding, the President’s signature, high-impact infrastructure projects would (maybe) vanished.
The Joint Committee on Ways Means Finance and Development Planning of the Legislature, is now forced to decide whether to prioritize the urgent financial relief promised to civil servants or the one-time opportunity for long-term national development.
This final budget decision will be the first true test of government’s core priorities.