UL’s $1 Million Goes Missing; Finance Ministry Remains Tight-Lipped
- Michael T
- Sep 5
- 2 min read
MONROVIA, Sept. 5 – The Liberian government boasted of revenue surpluses and payroll cleanups at the close of the 2024 budget year. But the University of Liberia says it never received a $1 million allocation earmarked for renovations, despite the Finance Ministry recording it as disbursed — raising new questions over financial discipline under President Joseph Boakai.
University comptroller Togar Gibson confirmed the funds, reflected in official budget outturns, never reached the institution. The disclosure shows what critics say is a growing gap between the Unity Party administration’s reform pledges and the reality facing cash-starved public institutions.
The dispute comes as the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) celebrates surpassing its annual target with revenues exceeding $700 million, while the Civil Service Agency claims to have saved millions by removing “ghost workers” from payrolls. But these gains have offered little relief to universities, hospitals, and frontline agencies struggling to function.
Instead, lawmakers, the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs and the National Security Agency all overspent their legally approved allocations by millions of dollars, while funds budgeted for core institutions like the University of Liberia went undelivered.
Boakai campaigned on promises of financial discipline, but nearly two years into his presidency, only limited suspensions have followed from corruption probes — with no prosecutions made public. Asset declaration laws remain largely unenforced, fuelling concerns that reforms are proving symbolic rather than substantive.
The dispute over the missing $1 million has become a key measure of the administration’s fiscal credibility. Unless the government can account for and correct such gaps, critics warn, its reform agenda will remain in doubt — eroding public trust and leaving essential services at risk.
_____________________________________
Get Involved
Do you have additional facts to add to this insight or an opinion you would like to express?
Email Us
Comments