Gov’t Says Former VP Taylor Receiving Her Benefits Urges her to submit Formal Complaint for Any Claims.

Monrovia, Liberia: Contrary to recent public statements, former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor has been receiving her full retirement benefits since leaving office in January 2024,

This revelation directly contradicts comments made by Madam Howard-Taylor during a live appearance on Spoon Talk on Sunday, April 6, 2025, where she alleged the Unity Party-led administration under President Joseph Nyuma Boakai had failed to provide her with any post-service entitlements.

“I left office without a single vehicle,” she said. “I was left stranded at the Executive Mansion during the inauguration of President Boakai and had to wait under a tree for a private ride home.”

She also claimed that multiple efforts to engage government authorities regarding her retirement benefits were ignored, leaving her feeling “abandoned.”

However, internal documents from the Ministry of Finance show that Madam Howard-Taylor has been receiving her full benefits in line with established protocols for all former high-ranking officials.

For March 2025, the records indicate:

• USD $782.52 (70% of her monthly entitlement, paid in U.S. dollars)

• LRD $66,311.52 (30% of the benefits, paid in Liberian dollars)

• Total Gross Benefit: USD $1,432.35

• Net Benefit After Tax: USD $1,117.88 (including a tax deduction of USD $314.47)

This benefit structure a 70/30 split between USD and LRD — was also applied during her own tenure as Vice President under former President George Weah.

Leaked payment records show that similar monthly amounts were paid to former Presidents Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and George M. Weah, further reinforcing the consistency of the policy.

Government Responds to Public Claims

The Government of Liberia, through Information Minister Jerolinmek Matthew Piah, has confirmed that Madam Howard-Taylor is receiving her entitled benefits.

Minister Piah explained that she is currently enrolled in two pension schemes:

1. One through the National Social Security and Welfare Corporation (NASSCORP)

2. Another under the Civil Service Agency (CSA) as part of the government’s old non-contributory pension system

“If there are specific claims of benefits that she’s supposed to receive and is not receiving, as she claimed in her radio interview, we encourage her to make a formal claim. The government is ready to look into that matter,” said Minister Piah.

He also emphasized that while the government maintains a complete record of benefit recipients including Madam Taylor specific details are confidential due to privacy concerns.

During her radio interview, Madam Taylor alleged she is being treated as a former Senator rather than a former Vice President, and that she has received no official vehicle or staff support since leaving office despite filing multiple written appeals to the current administration.

The Information Ministry has since urged Madam Taylor to formally document any additional concerns so they can be addressed through proper legal and administrative channels.

The release of these documents has triggered intense public debate. Critics argue that the former Vice President’s public statements may be misleading and politically motivated, especially given the consistent structure of retirement packages applied across administrations.

As scrutiny over transparency and accountability continues, the Boakai administration now finds itself navigating growing political tension surrounding the treatment of former officials.