16/10/2025
While Directors and Assistant Ministers earn $2,000USD to 3,000USD plus car value $25,000USD to $3,000USD,
District 9 Montserrado County COS has come with a contrary view of 15k car, thus urging Lawmakers to prioritize salary increment from less than 550 take home to equivalent Assistant Ministers and Directors pay in the executive branch.
He writes; 👇👇👇
House of Representatives
55th National Legislature
Capitol Hill
Monrovia, Liberia
October 16, 2025
Hon. Richard Nagbe Koon
Speaker, House of Representatives
Capitol Hill
Monrovia, Liberia
Subj: Open Letter to Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon and Members of the House of Representatives on the Purchase of USD 15,000 Vehicles for Chiefs of Staff of the House of Representatives.
Dear Honorable Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon,
I extend my compliments and gratitude to your office and all members (our bosses) of the 55th Legislature for activating the political will to prioritize the welfare of staffers at the legislature, which has yielded provision of buses, increment of some staff salaries, the gradual digitalization of the HOR, and the most recent talked-about purchase of vehicles for Chief of Office of Staffs— currently in committee room.
I'm also thankful for acknowledging the impactful sacrifices and good work we do ranging from providing leadership at administrative levels to representing you in the darkest hours of our duties geard towards serving our country.
Honorable Speaker and Honorable Representatives, I do agree with you that the job grade or rank of a Chief of Office Staff position is equivalent to an Assistant Minister or Director in the executive branch, yet, an Assistant Minister and Director salary range from $2,000 USD to 3,000 USD, with an assigned vehicle valued 25,000 USD to 35,000USD, while a Chief of Office at the first branch of government takes "home less than $550 USD, with no means of transportation least to talk about other benefits like health insurance, communication incentives, capacity building opportunities, etc, when infact we have an official status in government evidence by our passports.".
Hon. Speaker and distinguished bosses, the move to purchase us (Chief of Office Staffs) cars will not only solve our mobility constraints, but also ease the day to day problems we face in executing our duties.
As welcoming as this new is, I write to express a contrary view regarding the recent decision to approve the purchase of vehicles valued at fifteen thousand United States dollars (US$15,000) each for Chiefs of Staff serving Members of the House of Representatives.
While I recognize the importance of logistical support for staffers who play critical administrative and advisory roles, I respectfully believe that this policy direction may not represent the most prudent or sustainable want for COSes. In this context, a vehicle purchase of such scale, though well-intended, even risks sending a beclouded message about the legislature regarding spending priorities.
Instead, I humbly propose that the House consider an increment in salary and benefits for Chiefs of Staff along with other personal staff, which will then hardness a significant adjustment to align with the pay grade of Assistant Ministers or Directors across government spending entities. This would not only reflect our professional status and responsibilities but also provide a more transparent, long-term, and equitable compensation grade. Such an approach will validate that staff welfare is addressed in a manner consistent with national pay harmonization efforts and fiscal accountability principles.
Hon. Speaker and Honorable Representatives, increment in our salaries and benefits will not only have a continual human capital value, but will also motivate staff, enhance professionalism, and ensure stability—whereas a one-time vehicle purchase may provide temporary relief but not address the core issue of compensation disparity within the public service, thus will at the end cohere us to spend our pitiful $550 USD salaries on vehicle maintenance.
Honorable Speaker, the House of Representatives has the moral and institutional responsibility to set an example of prudent leadership and responsive governance. Redirecting this expenditure toward structured remuneration reform would affirm the Legislature’s commitment to fiscal discipline, transparency, and equity across our governance system.
In this light, I therefore appeal that this matter be reconsidered in the light of broader national priorities and the need to maintain public trust in legislative decisions.
With esteem and respect,
Yours sincerely,
David U. Germu
Chief of Office Staff
District 9, Montserrado County
PS. This statement doesn't reflect the view of my boss, nor the COS Network, rather of my personal view.
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