Monrovia- Margibi County Senator Nathaniel McGill is currently appearing before the Liberia Anti Corruption Commission for questioning in allegation of payroll padding and corruption related to salary payment.
By Gerald C. Koinyeneh, [email protected]
In a communication served to Senator McGill, the LACC announced that it has initiated an investigation into allegations of payroll padding and corruption related to salary payments for a supplementary payroll containing 728 names at the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs. This payroll was allegedly created outside the framework of the Civil Service Agency (CSA) under McGill’s directive during his time as Minister of State for Presidential Affairs.
The LACC stated that the supplementary payroll, which contained 728 names, was established under McGill’s instructions and was marred by irregularities, amounting to payroll administrative malpractice and corruption.
McGill appeared this morning in a fleet of dark SUV accompanied by lawyers headed by Cllr. Sayma Syrenius Cephus, who like McGill was sanctioned by the United States Government for alleged corruption in Liberia.
Upon arrival at the LACC headquarters in Old Road, Congo Town, McGill, swarmed by security and the press, disembarked his official Senate vehicle and headed straight into the LACC building for the probe which is currently ongoing behind closed doors.
McGill’s summoning comes on the heels of a damning audit report by the General Auditing Commission (GAC). The GAC reported there was no evidence that the Ministry developed policies to regulate the hiring and management of supplementary personnel. The audit revealed that 739 staff members were listed under the supplementary payroll, with an annual salary expense of US$2,622,060—more than 50% higher than the total salary expense for regular staff.
The GAC further noted there was no evidence that the Ministry budgeted and reported the salaries of supplementary personnel as a unique line item in the approved budget and financial/expenditure reports. Instead, the salaries were financed by reallocating funds from other budget items, including consultancy fees, without the required approval from the Deputy Minister of Budget and the Civil Service Agency.
McGill’s invitation for questioning by the LACC also followed his recent challenge to the United States and Liberian governments to investigate him and provide proof of his involvement in corruption. In a recent press conference, McGill called on both governments to address the sanctions imposed on him and to hold both past and current public officials accountable for their actions while in office.
Responding to the LACC invitation, he wrote on his Facebook, “They have requested my presence to provide information that will assist in their ongoing investigation into allegations of payroll padding and corruption related to salary payments on a supplementary payroll containing 728 names at the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs.”
This marks the first time that Senator McGill has been summoned by a government body to respond to corruption allegations since being sanctioned by the United States government in August 2022.
For the past two years, McGill has repeatedly challenged the U.S. sanctions, insisting that he has no record of corruption during his tenure as Minister of State for Presidential Affairs.
