The leadership of the Civil Servants Association of Liberia (CSAL) is calling on President George M. Weah not to sign into law the recently passed pension and benefit scheme Bill by the Liberian senate.
Speaking to a team of journalists recently at its Sinkor head office, the CSAL president, Mr. Moibah K. Johnson described the bill as “selfish, devilish, egocentric” and only intended to benefit the crafters and subject government to undue financial burden at the detriment of the state, public sector workers and derail meaningful development for the country.
Flanked by scores of his officials, Mr. Johnson among other things stressed that at this point in time when government is grappling with completing priorities to improve infrastructure, economic, educational and social wellbeing of the Liberian people and as such, the passage of the Bill by Senators is sign if being unpatriotic.
He added that it was unthinkable for lawmakers who are living comfortable lives from ordinary taxpayers’ money to bury the interest of the public and forecast their desire to continue living on government’s meager revenues even after their exist from office.
Mr. Johnson further indicated that what is even observed as a mischief in the bill is that there is no clear explanation as to what the bill considered as retirement, and wondered, “Does retirement means when a lawmaker is booted out of office through democratic election? Or, when lawmakers decide not to further contest legislative elections after serving their respective office terms can be considered as retirement?”
The CSAL then urged the Liberian leader saying, “How will you craft a bill that states that when you are out of the Capitol Building, while sitting home, government will be obliged to pay you fifty percent of the gross salary you were working for.”
“So, are you telling us that when you are rejected by your own people from represent them thus resulting into your defeat and therefore given marching order to vacate the Capitol Building government should use its meager revenues intended to run government functionaries and execute national development to pay you (former lawmakers)?”
Meanwhile, the CSAL has at the same time announced that it will mount forces with other public sector institutions including the National Health Workers Union of Liberia, the National Teachers Association of Liberia among others to prevail on President Weah to veto the awful legislative instrument just passed by the Liberian senate.
The CSAL is also calling on all civil servants and other public sector workers in Montserrado, Bomi, Margibi, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Bassa and Gbarpolu counties to troop to various National Elections Commission (NEC) biometric voter registration centers in the six counties from March 20-April 9, 2023 to get registered.
He added that the process is necessary, as this is the surest way of obtaining their voter registration cards in preparedness for the upcoming October 10, 2023 presidential and legislative elections.