Sen. Nuquay Warns: Volunteer Crisis Could Cripple Liberia’s Health and Education Systems

Monrovia, Liberia: Margibi County Senator J. Emmanuel Nuquay has raised alarm over Liberia’s growing reliance on volunteer health workers and teachers, warning that the practice is weakening essential public services and damaging worker morale nationwide.

Speaking during the Senate’s third sitting following the legislative recess, Senator Nuquay said many trained professionals are carrying out full-time duties without formal employment, regular salaries, or job security, despite their central role in national development.

He described the situation as a serious threat to service delivery and long-term sustainability, pointing to high attrition rates and declining efficiency, particularly in Margibi County’s District No. 5.

According to the senator, the uncertainty surrounding volunteer positions has forced many workers to abandon their posts in search of stable employment elsewhere, leaving several communities without adequate health and education services.

Nuquay also criticized the centralized government employment system, noting that many local-level workers are actively serving their communities but remain excluded from the national payroll.

The Margibi lawmaker called on the government to decentralize the national employment list, arguing that such a move would improve transparency, ensure fairness, and expand equal access to public sector jobs across the country.

He stressed that addressing the volunteer crisis is critical to strengthening Liberia’s health and education systems and restoring confidence among frontline workers.