NTA faces audit

The new management of the National Transit Authority (NTA) has revealed that NTA’s past administration is undergoing audit. NTA Managing Director Herbie McCauley told a news conference in Monrovia Tuesday, 20 February that the audit is intended to establish the status of the institution, obligation, debts, gains, challenges and the financial status.

He says the audit started about a week ago, with auditors from the General Auditing Commission (GAC) actively engaging the process.He notes that the audit is not intended to witch-hunt anyone, but it is best international practice.

The NTA’s senior management is also said to have reduced salaries for senior level personnels by 25 percent as part of effort to follow President George Manneh Weah’s steps in addressing the current economic situation in Liberia.

At his first State of the Nation Address, President Weah had said the amount that will be cut from his salary will be deposited in a consolidated account and allocated to other areas that need support, urging officials to follow his lead.

In line with Mr. Weah’s call, the NTA Boss Mr. McCauley says he and two of his deputies have agreed to have a 25 percent cut in their salaries and reduction in their monthly gasoline allotments.

According to him, his deputies and senior employees including comptroller and corporate affairs manager have also decided to reduce their salaries by 10 percent per month.

He note that the deduction will save the amount of US$21,600 annually, adding “We also gone further to reduce the amount of fuel benefits received.” He says Managing Director fuel is reduced from 350 gallons to 200, the two deputies reduced from 250 gallons to 200 gallons each, and the comptroller has also reduced his fuel from 175 to 150 gallons.

According to him, the total fuel deducted amounts to 3,300 gallons, saying the amount of US$32, 490.00 will be generated and channeled to increasing the salaries of staffs that are earning below the amount of US$200 per month.

He concludes that it is the objective of the new management, in line with the president’s Pro-Poor Agenda to help upgrade the salaries of employees and help improve the lives of the Liberian people.

By E.J. Nathaniel Daygbor–Edited by Winston W. Parley