Liberia's public servants have long faced unequal pay for equal work. Finance Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan says the draft US$1.539 billion 2027 budget aims to narrow this gap. About 17,000 people are expected to benefit from raises, new hires, and standardized pay. The budget focuses on improving public servants' welfare, addressing salary disparities, and ensuring retirement benefits.
The proposed reforms include salary increases for 13,000 existing government employees and employment and compensation interventions for 4,350 new hires. Directors will earn at least US$500 a month, and teachers with master's degrees US$650. These adjustments aim to correct disparities that have left some directors and senior public officials earning different salaries despite holding comparable positions.
The education sector will benefit from a new salary structure, ensuring teachers with similar qualifications receive consistent compensation across government-run schools. Teachers holding master's degrees are expected to earn a minimum of US$650 monthly, while bachelor's degree holders will earn US$400. The proposed adjustments also provide for minimum monthly salaries of US$1,200 for County Education Officers and US$700 for District Education Officers.
The budget also addresses the issue of accumulated arrears in employer contributions to the National Social Security and Welfare Corporation (NASSCORP), totaling nearly US$60 million. The Government has made provisions in the draft 2027 Budget to meet its statutory six percent employer contribution while progressively settling the outstanding arrears through an amortization arrangement.
Additionally, the draft budget makes provision for insurance coverage for personnel serving in critical Liberian diplomatic missions. Some foreign service personnel work in countries where insurance is a requirement, but the Government has not consistently provided the necessary coverage. Critical missions will be prioritized as the Government begins addressing the gap.
The Government also intends to revise its restriction on the purchase of used vehicles by public spending entities. Beginning in 2027, government institutions will have the option of using up to 25 percent of their vehicle procurement budgets to purchase qualifying used vehicles, subject to standards and guidelines to be issued by the General Services Agency (GSA).
Finance Minister Ngafuan emphasized that the proposed interventions are part of a multi-year public sector reform strategy that recognizes the importance of the people behind government institutions. The Government is committed to making gradual and measurable improvements without compromising fiscal sustainability. The workers will judge the promise by their January pay slips.
Key points
- 17,000 public servants are expected to benefit from raises, new hires, and standardized pay.
- The Government aims to address accumulated arrears in employer contributions to NASSCORP, totaling nearly US$60 million.
- The budget provides for insurance coverage for personnel serving in critical Liberian diplomatic missions and revises restrictions on purchasing used vehicles.
