Liberia watchdog blasts official benefits
CENTAL director says US$9,000 salary and US$15,000 housing allowance for CBL deputy governor are excessive.
The Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) has criticized the reported benefits for the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) Deputy Governor, calling them excessive. Executive Director Anderson D. Miamen stated that the Deputy Governor receives a US$9,000 monthly salary and a US$15,000 housing allowance, alongside other benefits. Miamen described this package as a misallocation of public resources in a nation facing widespread poverty.
Miamen questioned the economic sense of providing such high allowances, especially for housing, to officials who may already own homes. He urged the Liberian Legislature and Executive Branch to review and reverse laws enabling these disproportionate financial benefits. The CENTAL director highlighted that many civil servants earn less than US$500 monthly, contrasting sharply with the senior officials' compensation.
CENTAL argues that these spending priorities raise serious concerns given the country's unemployment, inadequate healthcare, and limited educational opportunities. Miamen stated that such disparities undermine public confidence in national resource management and that the pattern of spending is unjustifiable and must stop. He believes that even a significantly increased national budget would not improve citizens' living conditions with this spending pattern.
Why it mattersLiberians face unemployment, inadequate healthcare, and limited educational opportunities while senior public officials receive excessive benefits.