A surplus of chiefs and mayors in southeastern counties is causing budget constraints for local government, according to Local Government Minister Francis Sakila Nyumalin. Appearing before the Plenary of the House of Representatives in the 6th sitting, the Minister acknowledged longstanding challenges faced by local officials, noting that some are not currently on the government payroll, while others are compelled to travel to Monrovia to receive their salaries due to logistical difficulties in their respective counties.
”The current number of chiefs and mayors in these counties exceeds the allocated budget, creating a significant strain on our resources. We are working to address this issue in a fair and equitable manner,'” the Minister stated. Minister Nyumalin explained that the surplus is as a result of more cities and towns in the southeastern counties, and past administrative decisions, population shifts, and a lack of clear guidelines on the number of chiefs/mayors per region complicate the situation further. Many of them are serving but are not yet on the government payroll, which adds to the challenges, along with decentralization efforts and a lack of clear criteria for selecting and appointing chiefs and mayors.
Several members of the House of Representatives expressed concern over the matter. Representative Nehker E. Gaye of Electoral District #3, Nimba County stated, “How can smaller counties have over 50 chiefs while bigger counties like Nimba County can only boast about nine cities? This is unacceptable; it is putting a constraint on the budget.” The lawmaker said, “This situation is unacceptable. We need a clear plan to ensure that local officials are properly compensated and that resources are allocated effectively.”
However, Minister Nyumalin disclosed that the Ministry is exploring several options to resolve the issue, including working with the legislature, and is preparing to submit an amendment aimed at rationalizing local government structures. According to him, this amendment will seek to cancel the status of certain areas that do not meet the legal requirements to qualify as cities, as part of broader efforts to improve efficiency and equity in local governance. He said the Ministry of Finance and the Civil Service Agency will conduct a comprehensive review of the number of chiefs and mayors needed to implement a more transparent and equitable salary distribution system, and explore options for merging administrative units.
”We are committed to finding a sustainable solution that addresses the needs of both the local officials and the government,” the Minister concluded. The House of Representatives has requested a detailed report from the Ministry of Local Government outlining the specific number of chiefs and mayors in the affected counties, the budgetary impact of the surplus, and the proposed solutions to address the issue.
The communication was triggered by Nimba County’s Nehker E. Gaye, Representative of Electoral District #3. The lawmaker’s communication was centered on the treatment and welfare of local government officials across the country who are yet to receive their salaries from the month of October to December 2025.
By Joseph Sirleaf
