By Alfred Kollie alfredkolliejr92@gmail.com
After staging a big protest at the National Elections Commission in Sinkor, Monrovia earlier, staffers of NEC have petitioned President Joseph Boakai to suspend the Chairperson of the Commission, Madam Davidetta Brownee-Lansanah and subject the entity to audit.
In a strongly-worded statement presented to President Boakai’s Legal Advisor, Cllr. Busheben Keita this week, the NEC workers cited a number of administrative malpractices, which are yet to be independently verified and called for the payment of their risk benefits from the 2023 elections, something the NEC boss had told the media that was liquidated since.
Receiving the petition on behalf of President Boakai, Cllr. Keita assured protestors that the petition would be properly looked at and reviewed by the executive.
He noted that where there is a need for justice, there will be justice.
Keita thanked the aggrieved employees for their level of patience and assured them that the executive would properly review the petition.
According to him, the executive will take action where there is a need for justice, and justice will be served when there is a need.
The NEC Staffers emphasized the urgent need for the disbursement of benefits outlined in the 2023 Elections budget, including four months of unpaid hazard allowances and annual medical insurance.
According to them, financial constraints from the government have hindered the timely release of funds approved for the NEC’s operations.
Consequently, the workforce elected to form a committee, led by Mr. Rennie Boakai Gleegbar and co-chaired by Magistrate Luther Dean of Bomi County, to engage the Board of Commissioners (BOC) in hopes of addressing these critical issues in compliance with the Commission’s governing laws and policies.
They said the late October 2024 meeting further highlighted the successful and peaceful execution of the 2023 elections, largely attributed to the efforts of both the BOC and the NEC staff.
However, questions arose after the Chairperson of the NEC disclosed an excess of approximately $8 million, a sum reportedly managed without the knowledge of other commissioners, raising concerns over transparency and financial governance within the Commission.
Tensions escalated during a general meeting on October 24, 2024, where conflicting claims emerged.
The Chairperson admitted to unilaterally transferring budgetary funds to the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, disregarding the interests of the staff, in violation of established protocols that require collective decision-making among the BOC.
Responding to the growing unrest, the Minister of Finance acknowledged the omission of employee welfare considerations in budget allocations and pledged to involve a team to reevaluate the budget in light of staff interests.
However, subsequent reports indicated that over $4 million had been withdrawn from the NEC’s funds, leaving only $2 million available for operational costs, which further strained relations between staff and management.
Additionally, allegations of financial improprieties surfaced regarding questionable purchases and expenditures, including unused cameras and malfunctioning solar systems, leading to suspicions of mismanagement and lack of accountability.
The workforce expressed their alarm over the Chairperson’s perceived dictatorial approach, citing patterns of intimidation against employees who raise concerns.
Against this backdrop, the workforce, on Monday, November 11, 2024, petitioned President Joseph Boakai on three counts during their peaceful demand for immediate action from the government.
The workforce of over three hundred, in their resolution, calls for the suspension of the Chairperson, the Executive Director, and others potentially implicated in financial mismanagement, pending an audit of the NEC’s financial activities.
They also sent a direct appeal to President Joseph Nyema Boakai for intervention to ensure the payment of the overdue hazard allowances and annual insurance benefits that have been denied to staff during the 2023 electoral cycle.
“A request for relief funds from the government to address pressing administrative costs, which include concerns about fuel, unsanitary conditions at the NEC headquarters, and the maintenance of service vehicles.
Reading the statement on behalf of the workforce, the Director for Civil and voter Education of the NEC, Madam Deddeh Mulbah Pusa,h, said the NEC staff’s collective actions underscore the pressing need for transparency, accountability, and improved conditions within the Commission as they navigate the aftermath of the recent electoral period.