By Jamesetta D Williams
Monrovia – The Ministry of Public Works has announced a major restructuring involving Resident Engineers (REs) across Liberia’s fifteen counties as part of ongoing administrative reforms aimed at improving efficiency and productivity within the institution.
The announcement was made in Monrovia on May 26, 2026, during a meeting with Resident Engineers who serve as the highest-ranking representatives of the Ministry in the counties. The move follows the implementation of the Ministry’s “Octopus Strategy,” which focuses on strengthening infrastructure management and expanding the Ministry’s operational capacity nationwide.
According to the Ministry, the restructuring is intended to enhance supervision of ongoing road and bridge construction projects while also expanding responsibilities at the county level. The Ministry plans to intensify alley openings and surveillance, enforce construction permit regulations for new projects, and establish fully functioning county offices that will provide opportunities for students seeking internships within the Ministry.
Speaking during the meeting, Public Works Minister Roland Layfette Giddings described the reform process as part of a broader policy initiative driven by performance evaluations conducted on a county-by-county basis. He urged the Resident Engineers not to view the exercise as a punitive action, but rather as a strategic redeployment of skills and expertise to areas where they can be most effective.
“I would like to encourage you to approach this process with an open mind, knowing that you could be retained, reassigned to a different county, or recalled to headquarters,” Minister Giddings stated.
He further disclosed that the Ministry has developed a new policy framework that will guide future assignments of Resident Engineers, including the duration of assignments, qualification requirements, experience standards, and operational responsibilities within their respective counties.
As part of efforts to improve working conditions, Minister Giddings revealed that the Ministry has secured fifteen brand-new pickup trucks for deployment to Resident Engineers across the country. He also announced a significant salary increase, raising their monthly earnings from a minimum of US$250 to at least a gross salary of US$1,000.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister for Technical Services Prince D. Tambah Sr. assured the engineers that the Ministry will provide resettlement benefits to both reassigned and recalled staff members. He emphasized the importance of proper transition processes, directing outgoing Resident Engineers to prepare detailed turnover notes within two weeks to help incoming officers better understand their new assignments and operational environments.
“To those of you who are fortunate to be named Resident Engineers, the Ministry will accept no excuses for not doing your jobs, as we have made frantic efforts to create the necessary conditions for you to work effectively,” Deputy Minister Tambah stated.
He also disclosed that Resident Engineers will collaborate with the Presidential Team responsible for the management of yellow machines expected to be deployed to the counties beginning next month. Additionally, Assistant Resident Engineers will be assigned to five counties including Nimba, Margibi, Bong, Grand Bassa, and Lofa to support the growing workload of county operations.
The Resident Engineers welcomed the reforms and expressed appreciation to the Ministry’s leadership, noting that years of limited salaries and inadequate transportation had affected their ability to perform effectively. They described the reforms as a major motivation that could unlock greater productivity and improve infrastructure service delivery across the country.
The Ministry’s newly designed operational matrix was officially unveiled by Assistant Minister for Operations Margaret Sahsi, who directly supervises Resident Engineers in all fifteen counties.
About The Author
