Civil Servants Demand Salary Increase Over Retirement Extension

By Amos Harris

Government employees in Liberia are calling on Montserrado County Senator Abraham Darius Dillon to prioritize salary increases and improved retirement benefits rather than focusing primarily on his proposal to allow eligible civil servants to remain in active service beyond the existing retirement age.

The workers argue that low wages, rising living costs, and uncertainty about retirement security remain among the most pressing challenges confronting Liberia’s public-sector workforce. They maintain that extending the retirement age without addressing inadequate salaries could prolong financial hardship for employees who are already struggling to meet their basic needs.

Several government employees who spoke to journalists in Monrovia expressed disappointment over the retirement-age debate, questioning whether allowing workers to remain in service longer would provide meaningful relief to those earning meager monthly salaries. They said the government should first demonstrate a stronger commitment to improving workers’ welfare before pursuing policies that could extend their years of service.

Josephine Kolleh, an employee of a government ministry, said some civil servants take home as little as US$150 monthly, an amount she considers insufficient to support a family, meet essential expenses, and prepare adequately for retirement. She argued that salary increases could improve workers’ financial security and potentially strengthen their retirement benefits, depending on the applicable pension contribution arrangements. Kolleh also questioned the practicality of extending working years for employees whose health and physical capacity may decline with age, emphasizing that retirement reforms should consider workers’ dignity, health, and financial circumstances instead of treating longer service as the primary solution to retirement insecurity.

Another government employee, Jennifer Aniston, who is approaching retirement, described the existing situation as discouraging for public servants who have spent years working for the government without earning enough to secure their future. Aniston said her monthly take-home salary is US$150, leaving her with limited resources to meet present needs while preparing for life after retirement. Aniston further expressed frustration over what she described as unfulfilled expectations of salary improvements under the current administration. She alleged that a ministry official told employees that salary increases were not his responsibility and suggested that dissatisfied workers could resign. She also claimed that employees had previously been told salary adjustments would be considered after fictitious names were removed from the government payroll. These allegations could not be independently verified, and the official’s response was not available at the time of publication.

The employees are therefore calling on the government to prioritize salary adjustments, strengthen retirement protections through the National Social Security and Welfare Corporation (NASSCORP), and provide transparent information about payroll reforms and commitments to improve public-sector compensation. They insist that workers who dedicate years to national service should not be left financially vulnerable when they reach retirement.

Meanwhile, Senator Dillon has introduced proposed legislation seeking to make retirement voluntary for eligible employees and allow them to continue working beyond existing age and service thresholds. In a communication dated October 20 and addressed to Senate President Pro Tempore Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence, Dillon requested that the proposal be placed on the Senate’s agenda and referred to the relevant committees for review.

The proposed bill seeks to amend the NASSCORP Act to protect qualified employees from being compelled to retire solely because they have reached the age of 60 or 65 or completed 25 years of continuous service. Senator Dillon argues that allowing eligible workers to remain employed longer would give those who entered formal employment later in life additional time to contribute to pension schemes and potentially improve their retirement benefits. The proposal could also allow employers to retain experienced personnel and benefit from their knowledge and mentorship. However, the legislation has not completed the legislative process and would not alter existing requirements unless enacted.

Despite the stated objectives of the proposal, the debate has prompted questions about whether retirement reform should take precedence over the immediate economic difficulties confronting low-paid civil servants. Some Liberians have questioned Dillon’s political motivations, suggesting that the proposal could help strengthen his public image and political standing ahead of the 2029 elections. However, these claims remain speculation, and no evidence has been presented to establish that the senator introduced the legislation primarily for electoral advantage.

Critics argue that lawmakers should be judged not only by the proposals they introduce but also by whether those initiatives address the most urgent concerns of ordinary citizens. They maintain that any serious effort to protect civil servants must include a clear plan for improving wages, strengthening pension arrangements, and ensuring that public employees can live with dignity after years of service.

As the debate continues, civil servants are urging lawmakers to balance retirement reform with meaningful salary improvements and broader measures to protect workers’ welfare. The central question remains whether the proposed legislation will deliver practical benefits to struggling employees or whether the national discussion will continue without adequately addressing the financial pressures they face.

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