The Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), through the office of the Comptroller & Accountant General, has issued a stern warning to heads of all government ministries, agencies, and commissions, and their comptroller, stating that a failure to submit their third-quarter financial reports by the October 15, 2025 deadline will result in the immediate withholding of their salaries.
In a circular, dated October 8, 2025, the Comptroller and Accountant General, Elwood T. Nettey, emphasized that this directive is a strict enforcement of the Public Financial Management (PFM) Regulations of 2009, stating that the circular serves as a final reminder to all responsible officials, including entity heads, comptrollers, and finance directors.
The letter explicitly states that non-compliance will be treated as a “breach of financial discipline”. According to Section A.20 of the PFM Regulations, sanctions for non-compliant officers include suspension and the withholding of salaries.
“Let it be known that failure to submit your Quarter Three financial report will lead to the withholding of both the Head of the entity and Comptroller salary for the month of October 2025,” the circular reads.
This mandate is also linked to the government’s implementation of a recommendation from the General Auditing Commission (GAC) following its audit of the 2024 fiscal year.
According to a Finance Ministry press release, the move signals a renewed effort by the Liberian government to enforce accountability and transparency in the management of public funds.
The PFM Regulations require that quarterly accounts, prepared in line with the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), be submitted to the Auditor-General, the Minister of Finance, and the Comptroller-General within 15 days after the end of each quarter.
Comptroller General Netty expressed his anticipation for the “fullest cooperation” of all government entities as the administration strives to “improve accountability, transparency, and public financial management governance across government”.
The deadline of October 15, 2025, is now a critical date for government officials, with their personal remuneration directly tied to their adherence to fiscal reporting laws.
