The House of Representatives has overwhelmingly voted to summon Defense Minister Brownie Samukai to appear before plenary on Tuesday, March 19, 2010 at 8:45 am to give reason for entering into a contract with two GSM Companies on behalf of the Liberian government.
Raising the issue of the appearance of Minister Samukai, Rep. Emmanuel Nuquen said on a radio talk show in Monrovia that Samukai told the public that the Defense Ministry has entered into an agreement with CELLCOM and Lone Star Communication GSM Companies for the usage of the top floor of the unfinished Defense Ministry in Congo Town without the knowledge of the first branch of government who is clove with the constitutional responsibility to level taxes and fines.
Rep. Nuquen also told plenary that the action of the Minister is not only contemptuous, but that it undermines the function of the House of Representatives.
Lawmaker Nuquen insisted that it is unacceptable for a cabinet minister to engage in such action, wondering whether the proceeds generated from such contracts are going to government’s coffers, terming as deadly corruption and total insults to them (lawmakers).
Also, Grand Gedeh County Representative Zoe Emmanuel Pennue, said Minister Samukai, in addition to his assertion made during the radio talk show, incited the newly trained officers of the Arm Forces of Liberia (AFL), saying that increment of the salaries, allowances and other benefits of the army depends on the legislature and that lawmakers were making huge salaries, big allowances and lot of benefits forgetting the army which is charged with obligation of providing security for the state and people including lawmakers.
Based on the radio talk show, the lawmakers are claiming that their lives are no longer save with the statement of incitement from the Defense Minister who should served as protector but instead of performing this peculiar task , he is bent on making political utterances and endangering the lives of others.
Representative Pennue pointed out that the statement of the Defense Boss has put their lives under serious threats, making them venerable to officers of the AFL who want to give out their antagonisms toward them because of the reported failure to increase their salaries.
Currently, none ranking officers are earning US$92, 00 as allowance and L$3,000 as net salary. The amount observers say, is not sufficient to maintain a professional and formidable force in the contemporary world.
It can be recalled that this is third time the Liberian legislature has summoned officials of government, the first case being the four superintendents from Montserrado and Bomi Counties, the national coordinator of the County Development fund at the Internal Affairs Ministry, and the most recent being Finance Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan for delaying in the payment of their three months allowances and now, Defense Minister Samukai has been added to the roll call.
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i think defend minister Samukai is right to expose the black deals of the législatures and the suffering of the security forces.a securityman is the first class citizen in any nation therefore he must be paid with good salary inorder to support his wife and family.i expect the laws makers to encourage government to increase the salaries of securities personels than criticizing the defend minister for his concern.grand gedeh representive is only concerned about he and his colleagues lives but forgotten to realised that the defend minister life too is at risk once the securities are not satisfied with low salaries payment.so in order to make matter better i urge the government to address the concerns of the defend minister and his men and let the salary of a security man increse to atleast $250 00USD instead of the present salary.government is complaing about no money issue but each minister in government is making over $ 20 000 00USD monthly while a law maker is geting a salary of $11000 00usd monthly and everyday there are corruptions cases in government,the right way to right corruptions is to first of all fight poverity and increse salaries civil servants.
Let the Liberian legislature be warned that Liberians are fed up with their selfish and callous behavior. We are tired with your dishonest and unscrupulous activities at the capital. You have now proven to us that you are greedy, and serve your personal aggrandizement. From time to time, the Liberian people have witnessed you only seeking tyour personal allowances. There is a lot of curruption going on in that capital building. You do not have the interest of the Liberian people at heart. The defence minister was right for saying what he said. Any act to arrest or attempt to arrest the defence minister will be resisted by the Liberian people by any means necessary! Lesgislature, please take note and guide against any stupid acts.