Tubman University Issues Rebuttal; Bush Chicken Submits FOIA Request

On August 5, 2016, The Bush Chicken published an article reporting on several high-level individuals at Tubman University who were receiving salaries from more than one position at the university. The situation was noteworthy because the government has been slashing budgets in response to diminishing revenues as a result of a slump in prices of commodities, the effects of the Ebola epidemic, and the slow recovery of the global economy from a recession.

Other news outlets subsequently published on the Tubman University story. The university issued a press release which served as a rebuttal to the claims. Below is an excerpt from the release.

Here are clarifications to some of the misinformation and half-truths shared in the media:

Misinformation: â€œDouble Salary at TUâ€

Clarification:Â Actions of Tubman University administration are guided by our principles of operation, core values, policies, procedures, and, most importantly, the laws of the Republic of Liberia.

The University operates a policy where when a critical position is vacant, the University may designate a competent employee to assume the responsibilities of the vacant position in the interim, in addition to their regular assignment. When that happens, the employee gets a fair and reasonable compensation for assuming additional responsibilities, based on an established formula.

It is only fair to reason that when an employee is asked to temporarily perform the role of a vacant position, that employee gets compensated. This policy has been in effect since 2010; it was modified in 2013. To date, this policy has been applied to a number of positions and departments within the University whenever the need arises, including Director of Security, Dean/College of Management and Administration, Vice President for Administration, Vice President for Sponsored Programs and Economic Development, Assistant Vice President for Finance and Budget, Assistant Vice President for Human Resources, Director for Alumni Affairs, Accounts Receivable Accountant, Recruitment Officer, Accounts Payable Accountant, among others.

Please note that most positions mentioned herein have already been filled and â€œacting compensationâ€ has been withdrawn. This policy is applied by the University to fill operational void in the event an abrupt personnel gap occurs or replacement is not imminent. The policy is also coherent with Part T (Personnel Emoluments) of the Public Financial Management Act of the Republic of Liberia.

On the other hand, the University Handbook also allows for a monthly stipend to faculty members who assume the role of department chair. In this case, the Department Chair will receive an extra stipend in addition to his/her monthly faculty salary.

Finally, it is also important to inform the public that the appearance of two earnings on the University payroll for May, June, and July 2016 is in line with GOLâ€™s decision to split general allowances of employees into both LRD and USD, in addition to basic salary component which is normally paid in LRD.

Misinformation: â€˜Contracts to unregistered companiesâ€™

Clarification:

As a state-operated University, internal policies and procedures that are coherent with national statutes serve the basis of our operations. Contracts awarded by the University are in consonance with the PPCC laws; hence, it is preposterous to assume that any single individual (not even the President of the University) can give or award contract to a company without compliance with the controlling PPCC laws of the Republic of Liberia.

In response, The Bush Chicken has now submitted a request under Liberiaâ€™s Freedom of Information Act, asking for the following information:

– A copy of the Tubman University policies that govern employees performing in temporary positions (in addition to multiple, non-temporary positions).

– The number of years the following individuals have worked in their multiple positions simultaneously: