US Ambassador Pays Commerce Minister Courtesy Visit

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The United States Ambassador accredited near Monrovia, Mark Tone, on Friday, January 17, 2025,   paid a courtesy visit to Commerce and Industry (MoCI) Minister, Magdalene Ellen Dagoseh. Welcoming Ambassador Toner, Minister Dagoseh hailed the United States government for the long- standing partnership subsisting between the two countries. In an overview of the cordial ties between Liberia and the United States over the years, she recounted the United States government’s increasing support to Liberia, including trade, investment, capacity building and technology.  According to a Ministry of Commerce & Industry release under the signature of its Communications Director, Jacob N.B. Parley, Minister Dagoseh expressed Liberia’s readiness to strengthen trade with the United States and encourage private sector growth.  Madam Dagoseh specifically sought the United States government’s support to President Boakai’s ARREST Agenda; explore other ways to strengthen trade and economic cooperation.  She spoke about several areas that are keen to improving the business climate   in Liberia; including enhancing business development, creation of the requisite environment for trade and industry and driving economic growth.  Other crucial components of Liberia’s business environment under Madam Dagoseh’s stewardship, as disclosed during Ambassador Toner’s visit include protection of Small, Medium and Large Businesses. The Commerce & Industry Minister told Ambassador Toner about plans to expand industries in Liberia, creating a climate that will be more attractive for investment and improving local commodities so that they can conform to acceptable international standards.  Minister Dagoseh was however quick to outline some of the challenges affecting the Ministry of Commerce & Industry. Among them are gaps in the areas of infrastructure, capacity and logistics. She re-emphasized her commitment to making the Ministry’s vision a reality in the context of promoting   economic growth, industrial development and sustainable trade.  Minister Dagoseh lauded Ambassador Toner for the visit, describing it as welcoming and expressed the need for routine engagement with him. For his part, Ambassador Mark Toner expressed apperception for Liberia’s growing democracy, as demonstrated by the peaceful transitions over the past few years. Ambassador Toner also spoke about the importance of the Liberia Standards Authority playing a critical role. HOR Orders Investigation Into Controversial Supplementary Payroll The House of Representatives has authorized its joint committee on Public Accounts and Expenditure, Ways, Means, and Finance and Rules, Order, and Administration to probe allegations of duplications of positions of both Central Administration and Supplementary payrolls. The latest decision by the House of Representatives is predicated upon a communication submitted by the Civil Service Agency-CSA during its 3rd day sitting of the 1st quarter of the 2nd session on Tuesday, January 21, 2025. CSA Director General, Josiah F. Joekai, Jr., told plenary that the Government of Liberia is losing more than $USD 1.5 million annually as a result of such an unscrupulous scheme. Director Jockai quoting Part II, Section 2 of the National Remuneration Standardization Act of 2019, which states: “There shall be a single line item for payment of remuneration in each ministry and agency budget for the sole purpose of taxation. All remunerations shall be subject to taxation and payable consistent with the Liberia Revenue Code and Article 72 (a) of the 1986 Liberian Constitution of the Republic of Liberia”. According to him, to ensure straight adherence to the 2019 National Remuneration Standardization Act, and to prevent such wastage of public resources, the CSA has advanced a set of recommendations to the august body for consideration.

Among those recommendations, the CSA sought the immediate closure and revision of the supplementary payroll to prevent wastage and abuse of government funds. The CSA is also seeking collaboration with the House of Representatives to comprehensively review the House’s payroll systems to identify and eliminate any further duplicated positions and double-dipping individuals. “Strict Adherence to Harmonization Guidelines: The House of Representatives should follow the combined, single, and transparent salary system, which is in keeping with the National Remuneration Standardization Act of 2019, and ensure that all work-related payments are consistent with established consultancy guidelines,” the CSA requested. The CSA wants would-be double dippers to be made to restitute all illegal payments received through the supplementary payroll for work not done and the Human Resource Director of the House of Representatives be immediately suspended and investigated for these discrepancies and should forfeit his salary for the investigation period. The House of Representatives has already taken such a decision.  “With the consent of the House’s leadership, the special Internal Audit Agency (IAA) team working with the CSA on the Employee Status Regularization Project (ESRP) will conduct the investigation,” it pleaded.  CSA Director General, Josiah F. Jockai, Jr., added that the duplication of positions and payments on the House of Representatives central administration payroll and supplementary payroll, along with identifying individuals engaging in double dipping, highlights significant breaches of the National Remuneration Standardization Act of 2019. He told the House of Representatives that the stipulated recommendations constitute urgent corrective actions necessary to eliminate duplications and double dipping, adding that it will ensure that government funds are used effectively and comply with established policies and laws. The CSA Boss said strict adherence to prudent salary payment practices in keeping with established frameworks and enforcement of the consultancy policy for additional work-related payments will further enhance accountability and transparency within the public sector. Meanwhile, the joint committee on Public Accounts and Expenditure, Ways, Means, and Finance and Rules, Order, and Administration, preceding the investigation, will report to plenary.

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