[By: Sampson W Weah]
Monrovia, Liberia — A sweeping investigation conducted by the Informer Newspaper has uncovered no evidence whatsoever to support recent claims of payroll fraud at the National Insurance Company of Liberia (NICOL). Instead, findings point to a calculated political scheme targeting the institution’s leadership and threatening to derail months of reform efforts.
The controversy centers around four newly recruited employees who were officially vetted, cleared, and certified by the Civil Service Agency (CSA) after receiving employment letters on October 9, 2025. These recruits followed every legal employment procedure required under Liberian law.
However, just a day later, on October 10, 2025, the NICOL Board of Directors announced an immediate moratorium on all new recruitments. The four hires were advised not to assume office until the Board lifted the employment freeze—a standard administrative measure that is now being weaponized and mischaracterized as payroll padding.
NICOL’s Acting Director General, Abdullah S. Swaray, in an exclusive interview with the Informer Newspaper, described the allegations as “laughable, malicious, and intentionally misleading.” He emphasized that the employees were placed on hold before they could take on duties or appear on any payroll, making the fraud claims factually impossible.
Swaray said he personally informed the Board the moment the moratorium was issued and gave immediate instructions for the new hires to stand down until a decision was reached.
“There is absolutely no wrongdoing here,” he stressed. “These are vetted individuals who had not even assumed office. The attempt to label their employment as fraud exposes the political gamesmanship some people are engaged in.”
According to Swaray, the allegations are part of a broader political ploy orchestrated by individuals threatened by NICOL’s rapid transformation under his six-month leadership. Since taking office, he has pushed aggressive reforms aimed at modernizing the institution, improving transparency, and ensuring Liberians benefit from a functional insurance system for the first time in years.
“For the first time in a long while, NICOL is being rebranded to serve the Liberian people—not political elites,” Swaray said. “Some detractors see progress and panic. They resort to blackmail and manufactured lies to disrupt the momentum.”
Under Swaray’s stewardship, NICOL has committed to:
Rebuilding public trust after years of stagnation
Ensuring employees receive fair and modern insurance benefits
Bringing the institution in line with the legal requirements that established NICOL
Preparing a new strategic direction to make NICOL competitive locally and internationally
These ongoing changes have positioned NICOL as a rising institution within the insurance sector, making it a visible target for political interference.
In a passionate comment, Swaray lamented what he described as Liberia’s growing “crab mentality”—a culture where people attempt to pull down emerging leaders instead of supporting national development.
“When young professionals are called to serve and contribute to the recovery process led by President Joseph Boakai, they should be encouraged—not sabotaged,” he said. “We cannot build a nation if politics becomes the lens through which every action is judged.”
“NICOL Will Not Be Derailed.”
Swaray concluded by reaffirming his commitment to institutional integrity and transparency.
“I am the victim of politics, blackmail, and unfounded rumors,” he said. “NICOL has strong internal controls and an active Board of Directors. No imaginary payroll padding or fake fraud story will shake the foundation we are building.”
He cautioned those spreading misinformation to desist from fueling division and urged the public to support NICOL’s ongoing reforms.
“NICOL has rebranded. We are here for real change not propaganda,” he declared.
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