Africa-Press – Liberia. Montserrado County Senator Abraham D. Dillon has recently found himself at the center of public scrutiny following the appointment of his Chief of Office Staff, Mr. John O.F. Kangbah, as Inspector General of the Ministry of Labor.
This development comes amid ongoing debates about the Senator’s advocacy for stricter work permit regulations designed to increase job opportunities for Liberians in the local labor market.
Some Liberians have accused Senator Dillon of “somersaulting” on his longstanding position regarding work permits. The controversy was fueled by the recent nomination of Mr. Kangbah, who had served in various capacities within Dillon’s office, to the influential post of inspector general. President Joseph N. Boakai made this appointment, following the dismissal of Charles S. Brown from the role.
On November 27, 2025, Senator Dillon and Labor Minister Cllr. Cooper W. Kruah met at the Capitol Building to address ongoing disagreements about work permit policies. The meeting, attended by the Senate Committee on Labor and its chairperson, Senator Yayah Nimely, concluded with a commitment to improve dialogue and collaboration between the legislative and executive branches on labor issues.
During the reconciliation meeting, Senator Dillon emphasized that his advocacy for reforming the issuance of work permits was never personal. He noted that his concerns stemmed from a desire to ensure that Liberians have access to jobs that might otherwise be allocated to foreigners. He stated, “There can never be anything personal between Minister Cooper Kruah and me. Over the past time, I have been seeking answers to the questions and concerns I had regarding the Work Permit and how jobs can be provided for Liberians.”
Dillon further elaborated that his longstanding acquaintance with Minister Kruah, dating back over twenty-five years to their time at the Ministry of Justice, did not interfere with his legislative responsibilities. “As a Senator, I have a duty to serve our people. When our people are crying for a job, and we think we can provide a job for them, when there are low-hanging fruit. So, we needed to understand what was going on at the Ministry of Labor.”
Addressing public perception, Dillon reaffirmed his commitment to advocating for Liberian workers. He argued that positions which can be filled by Liberians should not be given to foreigners and expressed concern that the work permit system effectively “sells” jobs when revenue is generated from permit fees. However, he clarified that the practice is a function of government policy, not a personal failing of the Minister or his office.
“You will see the same Dillion who wants a job for Liberians. I still believe that foreigners shouldn’t be given jobs that Liberians can do… We are here not to find a solution,” Dillon stated, highlighting his ongoing efforts to address the issue constructively rather than through confrontation.
Labor Minister Kruah expressed gratitude for the renewed engagement with the Senate, acknowledging that disagreements are an inevitable part of governance. He attributed previous misunderstandings over the work permit issue to misinformation and pledged to improve communication going forward. The Minister proposed quarterly updates to the Senate Committee on Labor to ensure transparency and alignment on labor policy objectives.
“We have agreed on a quarterly basis that we will communicate with the committee some of the things we have done so that they can be informed to avoid misinformation. We will recommend the work permit to the Committee. We are not taking steps so that those jobs that Liberians can do will not be given out,” Kruah assured.
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