MONROVIA, Liberia – Former Senate Pro Tempore Armah Zolu Jallah is proposing a controversial but ambitious new law that would deduct $10 monthly from civil servants’ salaries to fund a national affordable housing program aimed at addressing Liberia’s deepening housing crisis.
The proposed “Housing Construction and Development Levy Legislation,” unveiled over the weekend, would target employees of government ministries, state-owned enterprises, and public corporations. The funds—estimated at nearly $10 million annually—would be deposited into a National Housing Development Fund to finance the construction of low-cost housing units across the country.
“This is not a tax—it is a shared investment in the dignity and safety of our people,” Jallah said. “We can no longer accept the reality where the majority of our citizens live in slums or in unsafe structures while government payroll continues to grow. It is time to build—together.”
Jallah’s proposal comes amid rising rural-to-urban migration and worsening housing shortages, with an estimated national deficit of over 500,000 units. The initiative aims to not only address housing access but also stimulate local economies and create jobs in the construction sector.
The former lawmaker emphasized that the fund would be insulated from political interference, governed by an independent board, subject to annual audits, and managed with a fair, transparent housing allocation system.
“Housing is a human right and a national obligation,” Jallah said. “This fund will give government workers the pride of knowing they’re helping build communities not just for others, but potentially for themselves and future generations.”
The proposal has already attracted interest from civil society organizations, policy analysts, and housing advocates who view it as a pragmatic step toward long-term development.
Jallah is expected to begin consultations with lawmakers, civil servant unions, and international development partners in the coming weeks as he seeks to build momentum for the legislation.
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