MONROVIA, LIBERIA – Under the leadership of Senate Pro-Tempore Nyonblee Karngar Lawrence, legislative staffers have issued a stark warning of disrupting Senate activities due to unpaid extra sitting benefits. The staffers, citing months of neglect, have expressed growing frustration over what they perceive as a persistent denial of their rightful compensation.
This brewing discontent is not without precedent. Last year, similar grievances culminated in dramatic protests, where staffers blocked entry to the Capitol Building, effectively barring senators from accessing their offices. Those protests were driven by unpaid salaries and benefits, an issue that now appears to have resurfaced with even greater urgency.
On Tuesday, January 7, 2025, staffers gave the Senate leadership a four-day ultimatum to settle their outstanding benefits by January 11. They warned that failure to comply would result in them obstructing the reopening session of the Senate scheduled for January 13. According to the staffers, these unpaid benefits stem from the extended special sitting mandated by President Joseph Boakai, which lasted from December 6, 2024, to January 6, 2025.
The extended session required staffers to work beyond their usual schedules, but despite their contributions, they allege that the Senate leadership has failed to honor its commitments. “If nothing is done by January 11, 2025, the Senate will not be able to open on the 13th,” warned one aggrieved staffer.
The Senate Staffers Association has expressed disappointment over the apparent indifference from the Senate leadership, accusing them of ignoring repeated appeals to address the issue. They argue that the delayed payments not only demoralize workers but also point to larger systemic failures within the government.
This is not the first time staffers have taken such drastic measures. On September 11, 2024, they staged a similar protest, locking down the Capitol Building and blocking lawmakers from entering. At that time, Senate Pro-Tempore Karngar Lawrence and other officials were compelled to address some of their demands before gaining access. However, staffers now claim that promises made during those negotiations remain unfulfilled.
The current standoff underscores deeper challenges within the Capitol Building’s leadership and governance. Staffers believe their plight is emblematic of a broader, persistent problem that has spanned multiple administrations, including that of former President George Weah. Unpaid wages, ignored benefits, and a perceived lack of accountability have created an environment of mistrust and unrest.
The Senate Staffers Association has made its position clear: without full payment of benefits by January 11, staffers will withdraw their services entirely. “Failure by the Senate leadership to meet this deadline will leave us with no alternative but to peacefully disengage from our duties,” the association declared.
