The acting management of the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC) has announced US$2 million to solve the long-running salary arrear problem of the entity.
LWSC’S Acting Managing Director, Moseray Momoh, told reporters on Friday, August 13, 2021, that due to the breakthrough achieved by his management, the Board and the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, four months out of the eight-month arrears are currently being paid, and that in the next two weeks the remaining two months will be paid. He said efforts are being made to raise funds to pay the last two months.
He disclosed that the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning provided US$1 million, and US$1 million is being provided by Ecobank as loan.
Momoh particularly commended the board of the LWSC for supporting his effort to ensure that, in just 63 days of his acting leadership, there is an ongoing process of securing health and safety insurance for the workforce and introducing the LPA system—geared towards improving the livelihood of the general workforce.
He said when he took over there was no water supply through the 36 inch transmission line, most of the water pipes and lines were damaged and provision of water to the public was a serious challenge, but in the same 63 days his management team has been able to repair some water lines, thus restoring water supply to Monrovia and its environs.
Momoh has also announced that a procurement contract of US$4.9 million has been signed for the construction of express line for the provision of safe-drinking water to central Monrovia. Further, a procurement contract of US$3.1 million for the construction of a one-million gallon grand reservoir in Paynesville has been secured.
According to the LWSC’s Acting Managing Director, a consultant has been hired to supervise the construction of the express line and the Paynesville reservoir, for the provision of water to communities in the Paynesville area.
Momoh noted that, with all of the strategies employed, the corporation wishes to increase its revenue base from US$300,000 to US$500,000 monthly and maintain stability in its workforce.
Meanwhile, LWSC Workers Union members who were dismissed and suspended previously have been reinstated.