Finance Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan vows that no government employees will earn below US$150.00 as of January 2025.
By: Lawrence D. Kawala
November 19, 2024 – The Minister of Finance of Development Planning Augustine Ngafuan has vowed that beginning January 2025, no government employees will earn below US$150.00
Addressing the Ministry of Information Cultural Affairs and Tourism Regular Press Briefing on Tuesday, Finance Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan said the government has allocated funds to ensure that beginning January 2025, no central government employee earning monthly gross salaries below US$150.00 minimum as provided for in the Decent Work Act of 2015 will receive less than US$150 as monthly gross salary.
At the same time Minister Ngafuan promised that all government employees will be paid on or before the 24th of the month, noting that the changes will take immediate effect of this month.
Min. Ngafuan said the Fiscal Year 2025 draft budget has made allocations for the improvement in salaries for doctors, physicians, teachers, AFL soldiers, EPS, Police and amongs others.
“The total revenue envelope of the Draft National Budget for Fiscal Year 2025 is projected at US$851.8 million, comprising Core Revenue of US$833 million or 97.8% and Contingent Revenue of 18.8 Million or 2.2%. Of this amount, Domestic Revenue constitutes US$791.76 million or 93 percent of the total envelope. This includes Tax Revenue of US$633.72 million or 80 percent of domestic revenue, Non-Tax Revenue of US$138.5 million or 17.4 percent,” Minister Ngafuan disclosed.
The Finance Minister told MICAT regular press briefing that External resources amount to US$60 million, or 7.0 percent of the total revenue envelope, to be sourced from the World Bank (US$40 million) and the European Union (US$20 million). “This represents a 50 percent increase in external resources from Fiscal Year 2024,” Minister Ngafuan stated.
Minister Ngafuan highlighted the important of Education, stating that US$4 million has been budgeted for the renovation and expansion of school facilities operated by the Ministry of Education, the Monrovia Consolidated School System and others. He also said that funds has been allocated to ensure that the Digital Transformation Program to continue for 2025 activities.
“Also, strengthening school feeding to provide nutrition and set children on the path to healthier school life and support agriculture outputs through the procurement of locally grown food products,” Minister Ngafuan stated.
Further more, Finance Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan stressed on the Rule of Law adding that a total of $4.4 million proposed for various projects including the ongoing renovation of military housing and commence renovation works on the barracks of the Liberia National Police located on Horton Avenue in Monrovia, the anti-drug program, “Kush Must Go”, counterpart funding for the proposed new Temple of Justice complex, and among others.
Meanwhile, Minister Ngafuan called for swift legislative action to facilitate effective government operation and service delivery to citizens.
He at the same time commended President Joseph Nyuma Boakai for his support throughout the budget preparation process, and said the draft 2025 budget transmits President Boakai’s and the government’s intention for the good of Liberia.
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