IPNews-Monrovia – The Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Mr. Samuel D. Tweah, has issued a new directive for Processing and Disbursement of Central Gov’t Payroll, which according to him, will ensure the timely processing and disbursement of employees’ salary.

According to Finance Min. Tweah, “By the 1st of every month, the payroll period of the previous month should be closed and dummy payroll for the current month sent to spending entities for review and administrative actions.
“By the 17th of every month, spending entities should send in their payroll adjustments including change of account numbers, resignation and other administrative actions.”

The Finance Minister also instructed the joint payroll teams of spending entities to have completed the applicable adjustments by the 17 and ensure payroll vouchers are signed by the designated officers of the spending entities before the close of business on the 18th of every month.

Min. Tweah further stated that by the 20th of every month, the Office of the Comptroller and Accountant General (CAG) should ensure all salary checks are dispatched, deposited and employees’ accounts immediately credited by their respective commercial banks.

“As of the 1oth of every month, the Office of the Minister of Finance and Development Planning will generate the list of noncomplying entities and submit to the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs for publication and necessary administrative actions,” Finance Min. Tweah added.

He begged for the cooperation of everyone so as to ensure “our deserving public employees take their salary payment on time.”

This is coming at a time when commercial banks have been telling their customers, including government’s employees, that they don’t have enough cash to payout. Also, there are reports, which haven’t been denied, that civil servants have not taken pay for months thus increasing the hardship on ordinary Liberians.

Recently, Montserrado County District # 8 Representative, Moses Acarous Gray, stressed the need for financial experts to assist Finance Minister Samuel D. Tweah and his team in handling the Liberian Economy.

Rep. Gray, who is a stalwart of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), told a local online TV that the Finance Minister lacks the ability to reach out to his international partners for help, stressing that his alleged refusal to seek help in handling the Liberian Economy is creating serious problem for the administration of President George Weah.