President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf has been meeting with officials and members of the Liberian National Bar Association, in ongoing consultations with National Stakeholders. She briefed members of the Bar on the current state of affairs. The President reiterated the government's current review of concession agreements, saying "It is in the national interest."

Madam Sirleaf told the lawyers that government had no choice but to cancel and or review all concession agreements. The

processes leading to the awarding of contracts, Madam Sirleaf maintained, were not properly adhered to in the recent past.

The Liberian leader said the review process will take into consideration the interest of the country and its people. "Once the

companies concerned cooperate, the process would be completed sooner than later, so as to open the doors for employment opportunities for our people," the President added.

Madam Sirleaf named concession agreements involving Firestone and Mittel Steel as among those undergoing review. The

companies, the President said has promised to cooperate with government in the review process. Madam Sirleaf attributed the partial lifting of sanctions on timber to government's sound policies aimed at stopping noncompliance by companies which owe government more than US$60 million in taxes.

The President informed members of the Bar Association of efforts being made by the government to improve the living

condition of civil servants and workers in the country.

The president said the recently recommended 73 percent increment in salary for civil servants was just the beginning of an

overall effort by government to increase the wage level for workers throughout the country. "This is just the beginning of a

comprehensive plan," President Sirleaf said, "That would eventually raise the salary scale to a much reasonable level."