The Senior Stenographer at the House of Representatives Mr. J. Sayfurh Geplay has given support to the call for reduction in multiple cabinet positions.
Mr. Geplay said merging certain cabinet posts will reduce what he calls "Duplication of Functions" and trim down economic and financial burdens on Government.
Mr. Geplay's call comes following initial call by Maryland County Representative for the reduction of multiple cabinet posts.
The Mary land Representative Bhofal Chamber last week criticized the he termed too many cabinet posts and called for a reduction from 20 to at most 10.
Rep Chamber said the reduction will help lessen the burden of spending tax payers' limited resources.
For his part, Mr. Geplay said appropriately 14 to 15 cabinet posts with effective and efficient function will best serve the interest of the Liberian people in a strive to achieve the Poverty Reduction Strategy.
According to him, some of those ministries have less responsibility and cannot authorize anything without the knowledge or approval of the other.
He added that, if such ministries are condensed to bureaus, the government budget for the over 20 cabinet ministries will equally be reduced.
"This does not work well in achieving the PRS, because if those less functional entities are merged and reduced to bureaus, those receiving ministerial salaries, allowances, gas slips and other incentives will not be given the same pay as the ministers. And their employees will be employed at the merged ministries, this is not about downsizing," he said.
Other citizens giving their views said there is no reason why the bill should not be passed into law if introduce.
There are arguments that the reduction of multiple cabinet posts will give birth to an economic and financial relief if the government will have a few but effective and efficient ministries working.
Presently, Liberia has over twenty ministries, but some citizens claim that some of these ministries do not have a well defined role and significance, and cannot perform any task without acknowledging the other.
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What are those ministries that have duplication functions you talking about why don't you name them for the public to know instead of talking intangibly. The writer of this news article should have question the interviewee to clarify further by naming those ministries and agencies of government that are performing the same task. I didn't see it in your article that's why am asking.
I do agree with the two individuals calling for the streamlining of the government's ministries in Liberia. Although one of them said it is not about downsizing, I will say it is about downsizing to a highly functional and efficient size. Another thing, the government of Liberia needs to consider stopping the practices of purchasing vehicles for and issuing gas slips to government officials. Although I do not know actual savings that will be generated from these actions, one can safely say it will reduce the excesses of government. It is hoped however, the savings will be significant enough to support certain infrastructural projects that will create conditions for private sector expansion of the Liberian economy.