The House of Representatives has summoned the management and board of the National Port Authority (NPA) over the abrupt termination of ten staffs.
The House’s decision was triggered by a communication from Montserrado County’s electoral district #17 Representative, Bernard Blue Benson, Jr., in which he attentioned plenary to what he termed as the NPA’s abrupt termination of 10 staffs from its employ due to allegedfinancial impropriety and administrative reason, in consultation with the Chairman of the Board.
Representative Benson said, according to the termination notice served to the 10 employees, they were terminated based on the provision of the NPA handbook, citing article 5, section ii, which states, “Offenses which shall warrant immediate dismissal” Count 2, “Gross negligence of duty resulting in loss of life, financial loss or property.”
“Hon. Speaker, after a conference with the terminated employees, I was informed that there was absolutely no investigation to their knowledge, leaving me to wonder if there was any due process afforded to the matter.
“I am hereby requesting this august body to invite the Managing Director of the National Port Authority, Mr. Sekou A.M. Dukuly, Mr. James Richard Bernard-Deputy for Administration, and the Chairman of the Board of the National Port Authority, Mr. Luther Tarpeh, to go in-depth to the cause of termination unambiguously, and with the magnitude charges, and also ascertain that those terminated were afforded due process according to Article 20a of the Liberian Constitution,” RepresentativeBenson’s communication noted.
He averred that, with the establishment of the actual facts, as deputies of the people they can give a clearer explanation to the people of Liberia, who are eager to know the truth of the mass termination of employment at the National Port Authority.
Meanwhile, the plenary voted to have the NPA management and board chair appear Monday at 12:00 noon in leadership meeting.