By: Melvin Flomo
The Government of Liberia has clarified that former Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor is receiving her lawful retirement benefits, contrary to public assertions made by the former second-in-command. The clarification was made by Information Minister Jerolinmek Piah during a press briefing in Monrovia.
According to Minister Piah, Madam Taylor is currently benefiting from two pension schemes, one administered by the National Social Security and Welfare Corporation (NASSCORP), and the other under the Civil Service Agency’s (CSA) old non-contributory pension system. He emphasized that this is the standard benefit structure for all former presidents and vice presidents of Liberia.
Minister Piah addressed Madam Taylor’s recent comments during an appearance on Spoon Talk, where she lamented that she is being paid as a former Senator instead of as a former Vice President. She also claimed she has not received any official vehicle or staff allotment since leaving office in January 2024, despite sending multiple written requests to the current administration.
In response, Minister Piah noted that the government maintains a comprehensive listing of individuals receiving such benefits, including Madam Taylor. However, he stressed that due to privacy concerns, the specifics of the benefits remain confidential and cannot be publicly disclosed.
“If there are specific claims of benefits that she’s supposed to receive and is not receiving, as she claimed in her radio interview, we encourage her to make a formal claim, and the government is ready to look into that matter,” Piah asserted.
The Information Ministry has urged Madam Taylor to formally document any outstanding issues so they can be addressed through the appropriate governmental channels.
