What were they proposing?
The Liberia Senate enacted a bill titled an act “adopting an integrated pensions and benefits scheme for certain categories of officials of the government of the republic of Liberia and repealing and or amending certain portions of title 26, Legislative Act, Title 12, Executive Law and Title 17, Judiciary (1972) and the 2003 act,” to grant upon themselves fabulous retirement packages.
The President, Vice President
The Senate, in Chapter three of the bill, which talks about pension and benefits schemes for elected officials of the executive branch, said that upon the President’s and Vice President’s retirement after serving a full term of six (6) years, they are entitled to fifty percent 50% of the highest gross salary per annum.
“In addition, he/she shall be entitled to a personal staff and facilities for the remainder of his/her natural life, and the amount allowed for this purpose shall not be more than fifty percent (50%) of his/her last gross annual salary, paid in equal monthly installments,” the bill said. “Additionally, he/she shall be entitled to the police or other state security protection and other services around the clock. The annuity and the other benefits and services shall be for the rest of his/her life.”
Speakers, Deputy Speakers
In Chapter two, which talks about the House, the bill noted that a Speaker and Deputy Speaker who honorably retired to private life and not in any way gainfully employed by the Government, shall “receive from the Government a pension annuity equal to 50% of his/her last highest gross salary earned as Speaker, per annum, paid in equal monthly installments.”
“In addition, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker shall be entitled to personal staff and facilities for the remainder of his/her natural life, and the amount allowed for this purpose shall not be more than twenty-five percent (25%) of his/her Annuity, per annum. Additionally, he/she shall be entitled to police other state security protection, and other services around the clock. The Annuity and the other benefits and services shall be for the rest of his/her life.”
Representative packages
In Chapter 5 of the bill, the Senate had it that elected officials of the House and Senate who have served for a term of 6 years and honorably retired to private life, and not in any way gainfully employed by the Government, shall receive from the Government a pension annuity equal to ten percent (10%) of his/her highest gross salary earned as an officer of the Legislature, per annum, paid in equal monthly installments.
It added that an elected officer of the House and Senate who serves for two consecutive elective terms (aggregate of 12 years), and retired to private life “and who is not in any way gainfully employed by Government, shall receive from the Government a pension annuity equal to thirty percent (30%) of his/her last highest gross salary earned as an officer of the House of Representatives and/or the Senate, per annum, paid in equal monthly installments.”
“An elected officer of the House of Representatives and/or the Senate serves for three (3) consecutive legislative terms (eighteen years) or more, who honorably retired, and who is not in any way gainfully employed by the Government shall receive from the Government a pension Annuity equal to fifty percent (50%) of his/her last highest gross salary earned as an officer of the House of Representatives and/or the Senate.”
The Chief Justice, others
The Chief Justice and Associates Justice the Supreme Court upon retirement and returning to private life and is not in any way gainfully employed by “Government shall receive from the Government a pension Annuity equal to fifty percent (50%) of his/her last highest gross salary per annum, paid in equal monthly installments.”
However, only the Chief Justice, accordingly, would be entitled to a personal staff and facilities for the remainder of his/her natural life, as well as police or other state security protection and other services around the clock, and that “annuity and the other benefits and services shall be for the rest of his/her life.
And for Circuit Court and Judges of Specialized Courts, they were expected to have received from the Government a pension Annuity equal to 50% of the last highest gross salary per annum, paid in equal monthly installments.
