MONROVIA – House Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon on Thursday, December 4, 2025, joined development partners at the official launch of two groundbreaking financial programs designed to empower Liberia’s civil servants. The initiatives, the 50% Salary Advance Scheme and the 3 to 5-Year Civil Service Long-Term Loan Facility, were introduced by the Civil Service Agency (CSA) in partnership with AfriLand First Bank. Officials described the programs as historic milestones in the government’s efforts to strengthen the welfare, economic stability, and financial resilience of public workers.
Speaking at the ceremony, Speaker Koon hailed the launch as “a defining moment in the government’s journey to restore dignity, expand economic opportunity, and renew hope for thousands of hardworking civil servants across Liberia.” He emphasized that these programs represent a bold, people-centered, and pro-worker agenda, designed to support families, enhance productivity, and improve financial security for public employees nationwide.
The 50% Salary Advance Scheme, first piloted by the CSA and Ecobank in 2024, allows civil servants to access up to half of their monthly salary whenever urgent financial needs arise. Speaker Koon applauded the program for providing critical relief to workers, noting that it “gives employees breathing space, reduces financial stress, and protects families from predatory lending and crippling interest rates.” He stressed that timely access to salaries is essential for safeguarding the livelihoods of public servants and promoting responsible financial management.
The Long-Term Civil Service Loan Facility, newly launched through AfriLand First Bank, marks a first in Liberia’s public sector. Through this initiative, civil servants can obtain loans repayable over a 3–5-year period to pursue ventures including small business development, home construction or improvement, agricultural projects, higher education, and other wealth-building activities. Speaker Koon described the facility as a tangible demonstration of financial empowerment, shared prosperity, and good governance in action.
Speaker Koon underscored that the programs are designed to stimulate both rural and urban economies by boosting household incomes, increasing consumer spending, and strengthening local markets. He explained that when civil servants prosper, communities thrive, and when households grow stronger, national productivity and development follow suit. The initiatives, he added, are expected to have far-reaching effects on Liberia’s economic and social landscape.
The Speaker commended CSA Director-General Dr. Josiah F. Joekai, Jr. for his leadership in driving reforms aimed at modernizing public service delivery. Key advancements include the Automated Legal Power of Attorney System, which replaces outdated paper-based processes with a fast, biometric, and technology-driven solution, and the nationwide Biometric Enrollment Program, which enhances employee verification, curbs fraud, and improves transparency and job security across the civil service.
“These reforms collectively restore trust, enhance motivation, and give civil servants renewed confidence in their roles,” Speaker Koon said. He highlighted that institutional modernization, coupled with financial empowerment, strengthens the government’s ability to deliver efficient services while uplifting its workforce.
The Speaker also emphasized the critical role of partnerships with financial institutions, particularly AfriLand First Bank Liberia, in implementing these programs. “By opening your financial doors to the men and women who keep our government functioning every day, you are helping to build a stronger, more inclusive Liberia,” he said.
