LIBERIA – The Monrovia City Corporation (MCC) is undergoing a shake-up under the leadership of Mayor John-Charuk Siafa, with recent actions raising concerns among employees. A recent directive from the Human Resource Department, signed by Director Hilary D. Womba, has suspended the “MCC’s In-House/Supplementary Salary” with immediate effect, until further notice from management.
The directive, dated May 2, 2024, cites the need to address and arrange the payroll to ensure “Value for Money” and inclusiveness through individual and organizational performance. The move is part of a management plan to establish a sustainable framework to address double compensation, leading to salary disparities within the workforce.
Recently, Smart News Liberia received information from a source suggesting serious concerns of witch-hunting within the MCC.The source alleges that Mayor John Charuk-Siafa and his associates have primarily focused on violating the Decent Work Act.
According to the source, this harassment has reportedly instilled fear among employees at MCC who were hired during the administration of the former ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC).
Furthermore, the source said there have been reports of the unlawful dismissal of other senior staff members at MCC by Mayor Saifa. It’s noteworthy that Mayor Siafa is related to President Joseph Boakai, which raises questions about potential influences behind these alleged actions.
The source also claims that the City Planning Manager at MCC, Melvin Brown, had his phone confiscated, reportedly on the orders of Mayor Siafa. However, the reason for this action was not provided by the source.
The source did not specify whether Charuk-Siafa’s actions were aimed at removing former members of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC). During his tenure, the former Mayor, Jefferson Koijee, who is now the Secretary General of CDC, reportedly hired a significant number of CDC supporters at MCC.
Howbeit, the drective states this measure aims to transform the MCC into a result-focused organization, with performance indicators based on qualifications, experience, competence, and technical skills. The salary reform and restructuring framework are expected to drive the organization towards high-performance targets in the future.
According to the drective, the suspension affects employees on the internal payroll, not on the Government of Liberia (GoL) payroll. Only those on the internal payroll will continue to receive salaries until they are moved to the CSA/MFDP payroll.
The directive, in the possession of Smart News Liberia concludes with a note of appreciation for the employees’ support and understanding during this transition period. It underscores the importance of transparency and equity in pay rates, aiming to foster organization ownership among staff members.
The MCC’s decision to suspend the In-House/Supplementary Salary reflects a broader effort to streamline operations and ensure efficiency within the organization. However, it remains to be seen how this move will impact employee morale and the overall functioning of the MCC under Mayor John-Charuk Siafa’s leadership.
