Nimba County — Minister Nathaniel McGill has clarified that fundings for his tuition aid scheme for high school students in Bong, Margibi, Grand Bassa and Nimba Counties are not from him personally or intended to buy votes ahead of the 2023 presidential elections as being speculated.
The minister of state has come under public scrutiny since he embarked on a tuition-spending-spree in the four counties in which he has reportedly spent over L$200 million.
For Cllr. Tiawain Gongloe, a presidential aspirant, the minister’s move is an act of “vote-buying” ahead of the country’s presidential elections in 2023.
“Min. McGill action shows reckless disregard for the feelings of the Liberian people who are suffering,” he said.
“I am saying this especially at a time when, within one month, the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs has spent about L$170 million as political gifts to four counties.”
McGill: “I’m being supported by friends”
In response to criticisms that have dogged his tuition aid scheme, Minister McGill said he’s being supported by goodwill individuals and institutions.
“I have friends who have been supporting my initiative. Friendly institutions have been assisting me too as well while other institutions have vowed to help in contributing to the process. For example, ArcelorMittal Liberia has promised to make commitment.”
Minister McGill added that his intentions to establish the tuition aid are not intended to “buy votes” but a move intended to complement the efforts of the government in paying students’ fees. “This has no political motive. I’m being move by my conviction. The tuition aid is not for only partisans of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change, it’s for every deserving student,” he said.
Addressing issues relating to the ratification of the amended ArcelorMittal MDA, Minister McGill said the Government of Liberia needs the steel company. “We can’t say that the Government will throw Mittal away. How will we raise revenue? If Mittal goes and everybody doesn’t have jobs and the iron ore remains under ground, how will it benefit our people?”
He acknowledged concerns from citizens of Nimba County relating to relocation of the G.W. Harley Hospital in Sanniquelle, improvement in housing and creation of jobs for citizens of Nimba.
He said in discussions with AML, government has insisted that Liberians will not continue to live in containers at AML and stressed that the company needs to commit to improve housing. He also mentioned AML’s commitment to the relocation of the government hospital in Sanniquelle.
Minister McGill emphasized that there are lots of good things in the new amended AML MDA, adding that government is working to ensure that there are concrete actions on the part of AML to address concerns from Nimba and other counties where it operates
He said conditions must be improved by the company, stressing that “AML must operate in a way that our people will be happy, and we have to create conditions so our people will be able to work in harmony with the company.”
The Minister of State for Presidential Affairs clarified that the government hasn’t given the railway to ArcelorMittal. “That information is false and misleading. The railway belongs to Government. Government has absolute control.”
Speaking on the issue of jobs exclusively for people of Nimba, Minister McGill said: “Nimba Citizens are citizens of Liberia and Liberians deserve to hold some of the most senior positions at Mittall These are part of the negotiations. The company operates not just in Nimba but Liberia, so Liberians deserve prominent jobs at Mittal. Before MDA is ratified, all the Ts and ‘Is’ will be crossed.
He called on the people of Nimba to support the presence of ArcelorMittal Liberia and assured that the Government will ensure that their rights are protected and their concerns addressed.