Paynesville, Liberia – August 7, 2025 — Clarence K. Massaquoi, Chairman of the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA), has denied recent claims that LTA commissioners earn very high monthly salaries and receive large fuel allowances.
During a live interview on ELBC’s Super Morning Show with Varflay Kamara, Massaquoi called the reported figures—$10,000 monthly salaries and $3,600 fuel benefits—“inaccurate and misleading.”
He explained that the actual net salary for an LTA commissioner is about $4,800 after taxes and deductions. “The numbers shared on social media don’t reflect the truth,” he said. “They cause public outrage based on false information.”
Regarding fuel allowances, Massaquoi said commissioners receive around 200 gallons of generator fuel monthly, worth between $800 and $900, much less than the $3,600 being rumored.
He also mentioned that commissioners currently use their personal vehicles and get a taxable transportation allowance. The Authority is considering a policy allowing commissioners to choose either this allowance or an official vehicle, but not both. The official vehicle would have a limit of $45,000.
This controversy follows a leaked payroll document from last year that claimed LTA commissioners earned over $15,000 per month in total compensation and benefits. The leak caused public backlash, concerns about government spending, and calls for salary alignment across public offices.
Chairman Massaquoi assured that the LTA follows government-approved pay guidelines and invited independent audits to verify the Authority’s finances. “We are transparent,” he said. “Anyone with questions can visit the LTA Finance Office.”
As salary transparency becomes a key national issue, Massaquoi’s statement adds to the ongoing discussion about fair pay and accountability in Liberia’s public sector.
