Critics argue this practice distorts the true size of the government payroll and masks the actual cost of public sector labor. Data presented by the former minister shows a dramatic rise in Liberia’s wage bill over the past decade, growing from US$113.9 million in 2010 to the US$354 million projected for 2026. While the draft 2026 budget lists US$329 million under the standard compensation line (Budget Code 21), an additional US$26 million is reportedly embedded in “Other Compensation” (Budget Code 222123). They are also urging lawmakers to enforce these reforms during the mid-term review of the 2026 budget. Journalists, economists, and civil society groups are being encouraged to closely track the disputed budget line and interrogate the data to ensure greater transparency.

Source: GNN Liberia December 29, 2025 21:13 UTC