Liberia: National Election Commission’s Employees Demand Accountability, Transparency in Budget Handling Amidst Unpaid Benefits - FrontPageAfrica

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Monrovia – In a move signaling growing dissatisfaction within the National Elections Commission (NEC), over 300 employees have come together to demand immediate action on budget transparency and the resolution of their outstanding benefits, including hazard allowances and insurance coverage.

By Edwin G. Genoway, Jr(231886458910)-edwin.genoway, Jr(231886458910)-edwin.henoway@frontpageafricaonline.com

The employees have signed a resolution urging the Board of Commissioners, led by Chairperson Madam Davidetta Brown Lassana, to address key financial issues that have left workers disgruntled and unpaid months after the 2023 elections.

The resolution, obtained by FrontPage Africa, highlights the workers’ demand for a committee to be formed to determine the allocation of funds, particularly focusing on six months of hazard allowances, insurance benefits, and other financial needs stemming from the 2023 general and presidential elections.

The staff are calling for immediate approval of these proposals, ensuring that the surplus funds left over from the elections be used for these pressing needs.

A major point of contention is the US$8 million surplus reportedly left over from the 2023 elections, which Chairperson Lassana had promised would be returned to the government of Liberia.

However, employees claim that US$2 million of this amount — designated for staff benefits—was deducted without proper explanation, leaving workers to question where that money went.

Despite promises made for payment, employees have yet to receive any compensation or insurance coverage, months after the elections.

Rennie B. Gleegbar, representing the discontented staff, pointed out that the lack of timely disbursements has created a severe morale crisis within the NEC.

Workers, many of whom faced difficult and dangerous conditions during the elections, are particularly frustrated by the failure to provide basic benefits like insurance and hazard pay.

Gleegbar recounted heartbreaking stories of staff members who fell ill or required medical attention during the election period, only to be left stranded due to the absence of the promised insurance coverage.

“Some of us were not informed about the insurance coverage included in the NEC budget. One of our colleagues had to travel to India for medical care because they were denied access to treatment. This is a failure of leadership,” Gleegbar said.

The staff are also voicing concerns about the failure to address basic operational needs. 

The resolution demands that a reasonable portion of the budget surplus be allocated for administrative costs, including repairs for vehicles and improvements at NEC headquarters and regional offices.

These demands reflect an urgent need to maintain the Commission’s operational capacity, particularly as the country looks toward future elections.

The employees have also expressed frustration over the ongoing lack of transparency from the Board of Commissioners. 

Despite assurances from Lassana, staff believe that there has been a deliberate lack of communication and accountability regarding the allocation of funds, particularly the US$2 million that was reportedly deducted without explanation.

“If there is money left over after budget cuts, it should be declared to the government and used to cover liabilities for employees. But instead, she deducted the US$2 million and still didn’t pay anything to us. That’s wickedness,” Gleegbar charged.

In response to the employees’ grievances, Chairperson Lassana has defended the handling of the funds, insisting that the US$8 million surplus was returned to the Liberian government as promised. 

She dismissed the allegations of financial mismanagement, stating that the money was not intended for staff distribution but was designated for by-elections and other approved expenses.

“There were internal disputes about how the funds should be allocated. Some staff thought it should be divided among employees, but that was never the plan,” Lassana stated in her response. 

She emphasized that the funds were utilized for necessary operational purposes, including staff allowances for election-related activities, though she acknowledged that there were disagreements about the allocation process.

However, these explanations have done little to quell the anger among NEC staff. As the Commission gears up for future elections, employees argue that the current leadership’s failure to resolve these financial discrepancies is not only damaging to morale but also threatens the ability of the NEC to function effectively in upcoming electoral processes.

The employees’ call for a transparent and accountable budgeting process is a clear indication that the NEC must address its internal financial issues urgently. If the Commission is to regain the trust and confidence of its workforce, decisive action is needed — not only to resolve the current impasse but to ensure that such problems do not reoccur as Liberia approaches the next electoral cycle in 2029 or closer.