MONROVIA – In a bold display of political courage, Representative Musa Hassan Bility has thrown his weight behind Senator Abraham Darius Dillon’s bill to cut lawmakers’ salaries, going a step further to advocate for a comprehensive reduction in Executive Branch remunerations. Bility’s statement underscores the growing public outcry over excessive government salaries, emphasizing that Liberia’s leaders must lead by example and prioritize the welfare of citizens over personal interests. As the country grapples with economic challenges, Bility’s stance highlights the need for accountability, equity, and fiscal discipline in governance. THE ANALYST reports.
Representative Musa Hassan Bility of Nimba County’s District #7 has expressed his unwavering support for Senator Abraham Darius Dillon’s bill to reduce the monthly salaries of lawmakers to Five Thousand United States Dollars.
In a statement, Rep. Bility emphasized that the bill is a step towards discipline, moderation, and accountability in the use of public resources, and commended Senator Dillon for his consistency and courage on the matter.
Rep. Bility also called for an amendment to the bill to ensure that top public officials, including the President, Vice President, and heads of Ministries, Agencies, Commissions, and SOEs, earn no more than US$5,000 per month from public resources.
The Representative’s statement highlights the need for fairness, equity, and discipline in government compensation, and urges colleagues to support the bill and prioritize the welfare of Liberian citizens.
He declared boldly: “I have followed very carefully the ongoing debate in the Liberian Senate over the bill introduced by Montserrado County Senator, Abraham Darius Dillon, titled ‘An Act Fixing the Monthly Remuneration of the Legislature’, which seeks to reduce the monthly salaries of lawmakers to Five Thousand United States Dollars.”
Bility continued: “I want to state, without any ambiguity, that I stand 100% in support of this bill. At a time when our people are struggling to access basic healthcare, quality education, and decent public services, it is morally indefensible for their elected representatives to continue to preside over a wage structure that is generous to officials and cruel to citizens. Senator Dillon’s initiative is a bold step toward discipline, moderation, and accountability in the use of public resources, and I commend him for his consistency and courage over the years in this matter.”
He however said such a reform cannot stop at the Legislature, indicating that the Liberian people are not only questioning lawmakers’ pay.
“They are questioning the entire architecture of excessive remuneration for top public officials. If we cut only our side while leaving executive officials with larger, more hidden packages, we will not have achieved true equity or discipline in our compensation system,” he said further.
The Citizens Movement for Change Political Leader continued: “I am therefore calling for an amendment to Dillon’s bill that ensures that no member of the Executive Branch, including the President, the Vice President, and principal and deputy heads of all Ministries, Agencies, Commissions, and SOEs, shall earn more than Five Thousand United States Dollars per month from public resources. Additionally, the benefits of these officials also need to be reduced. Anything less than this would be partial and incomplete.”
Continuing, he said: “One of the deepest wounds in our democracy is the perception that government is a machine designed to enrich public officials. Capping salaries of all top public officials will help save the country significant resources, free up millions of dollars that can be redirected to hospitals, schools, medicines, teacher pay, and infrastructure, promote discipline in public spending, and send a clear message that leadership begins with sacrifice, not privilege.”
Bility said when the people see their leaders taking cuts, it becomes easier to ask them to tighten their belts.
“Applying the same benchmark across the Executive Branch and standardizing salaries at a reasonable level will help restore public trust and confidence. And show that we, as leaders, are prepared to live within limits,” he said. “It will also create fairness across branches, as it is unfair for one branch to reduce its pay while another continues to enjoy higher, unregulated packages. A standard ceiling on remuneration demonstrates that no position in government is above sacrifice in the national interest.”
Bility argued that under the Constitution, appropriation and control of the national budget lie with the Legislature.
Said Bility further: “That power is meaningless if we are afraid to regulate our own pay and that of other senior officials who depend on the public purse. Now that Senator Dillon’s bill is formally before the Senate, there is no excuse. The matter is no longer about talk shows and public debates. It is on the table as a bill.
“I therefore pledge my full support in the House of Representatives for Senator Dillon’s bill and strongly suggest that the reduction in salaries of top officials of the Executive Branch be included in the bill. When this bill is transmitted from the Senate to the House, I will vote for it and advocate for its speedy passage.”
He sent out a clarion call: “To my colleagues in both Houses, this is not about comfort, nor is it about popularity. It is about justice and responsibility. History will remember whether we used our time in office to protect our personal allowances or to reset Liberia on a path of fairness and discipline.”
Bility said the Liberian people are watching; that they have endured too much hardship, while a small group of officials live far above the realities of ordinary citizens.
“We cannot continue this way and still claim to be serious about change,” he said.