The leadership of the House of Representatives has categorically refuted recent assertions made by the former Speaker on his social media page regarding the non-payment of staff salaries and benefits. The claims suggest that staff members have not received their remunerations because of his removal as Speaker. ‘This statement is misleading and does not reflect the facts,’ the House of Representatives has indicated. To clarify, the Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives has a staff strength of over 60 individuals. Once the former Speaker lost the speakership, those staffers ceased to be under his direct supervision. It is now the new speaker Hon. Richard Nagbe Koon who has that. It is important to note that these staffing adjustments are standard procedural practices following changes in leadership within the House of Representatives. As an ordinary lawmaker, the former Speaker, now representing Grand Kru County Electoral District #2, is entitled to 16 staff members, consistent with the policy for all members of the House. “By directive of the Chairman of the Committee on Rules, Order, and Administration, James Kolleh of Bong County Electoral District #2, the Acting Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives formally wrote to Representative J. Fonati Koffa a week ago, requesting the submission of the names of his 16 entitled staff members. This step is necessary for the processing of their remunerations, which will commence in December 2024,” The House of Representatives has also noted. The leadership of the House, under the stewardship of Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon, said it is committed to ensuring that all staffers of the Liberian Legislature are duly compensated for their labor. This commitment underscores the value and dignity the leadership places on the contributions of its workforce. It is important to emphasize that this process is not merely a matter of holiday consideration but a reflection of the House’s dedication to upholding its obligations to its staff. The leadership remains focused on maintaining transparency and efficiency in its administrative functions to ensure the smooth operation of the Legislature.
Comments are closed.