Monrovia – Vocal Liberian Economist Samuel Jackson claims that the administration of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf left the public sector wage bill at US$320 million.
Fact Check Report By: Varney Kelvin Sirleaf | LVL Fact Checker
Mr. Jackson made the claim when he recently appeared on the a live radio interview on OK FM to debate with opposition Unity Party Secretary General Amos Twea about the state of the economy under the recent past and present administration.
Local Voices Liberia Fact Checking Desk has verified the claim by first reviewing the National Budget for Fiscal Year 2017/2018 – which was the last national budget of the Sirleaf administration.
In the approved National Budget for Fiscal Year 2017-2018, the total allocation for compensation of employees made in that year was at US$ 298.020 million – an amount which is less than the US$320 million.
Conclusion
Based on review of the budgetary allotments made in the National Budget for Fiscal Year 2017-2018, the public sector wage bill in that budget year was at US$ 298,020 million and not US$320 million as claimed by Mr. Samuel Jackson.
Therefore, we conclude that the claim made by Economist Samuel Jackson that the public sector wage bill at the end of the Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf administration was at US$320 million is incorrect.
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