By Mark N. Mengonfia- mmenginfia@gmail.com
CAPITOL BUILDING, Monrovia- Workers of the House of Representatives early Thursday morning staged a sit-in protest action in front of the office of House Speakers Chambers, demanding some payment of 17 months cash deducted from the Liberian dollars component of the salaries.
The workers on January 28, 2021 claimed that the leadership of the House of Representatives cut their salaries for the past 17 months, something they say has provoked lots of protestation at that side.
Although Liberia’s Minister of Finance Samuel Tweah has told workers across Liberia that the change in their pay structure came as a result of the recent salary harmonization scheme, the workers at the House chanted, the “No money, no Speaker….Put an end to bad leadership.”
“We want our money,” some of the writings placed on the placards carried by the workers said.
After their sit-in for several minutes, Sinoe County District # 3 lawmaker, Matthew Zarzar pleaded with the disenchanted workers to leave the Speaker’s office, promising that they (Lawmakers) were going to discuss their plight in session today.
The Sinoe County Lawmaker was joined by Bong County District #3 Lawmaker, J. Marvin Cole to plead with them to leave.
One scene in front of Speaker’s office
They later left, but soon regathered and returned to the front of the office of the Speaker’s office demanding the Speaker to come out and speak with them.
At the same time, they asked one of their colleagues who has been locked up in a meeting with the Speaker and other members of leadership of the House of Representatives.
Up till press time, Speaker Chambers had not come out to meet with the aggrieved workers many of whom were dressed in black in front of his office.
Speaker Chambers of the ruling CDC is Representative of Maryland County.