Prez. Boakai Submits US$1.538B FY2027 Draft National Budget to Legislature

Finance Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan has submitted on behalf of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. the draft FY2027 National Budget in the amount of US$1.538 billion to the 55th National Legislature through House Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon. Minister Ngafuan also submitted the President’s Budget Message.

The draft budget was submitted today, Friday November 6, 2026 in the Office of House Speaker.

The draft budget outlines the revenue projection and spending plan for FY2027 which aims to accelerate the achievements of objectives set in the government’s development plan, the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development. The budget will impact ordinary Liberians through increased investments in healthcare, education, women’s empowerment, youth development, public sector compensation, and critical infrastructure.

In the President’s Budget Message, he informed the Legislature that the theme of next year’s Budget Message is “A Growing Budget for Bigger Impact: Accelerating the Implementation of the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development”.

Accordingly, the Draft Budget places significant emphasis on people-centered development, with increased allocations to health, education, gender and social protection, youth empowerment, and public sector investment programs and compensation.

President Boakai indicated that the proposed budget reflects the Government’s commitment to translating improved domestic revenue performance into tangible improvements in the lives of ordinary Liberians. Notably, by September 2026, domestic revenue collections had exceeded US$1 billion for the first time in Liberia’s history, demonstrating increased domestic resource mobilization and the Government’s growing capacity to finance national development priorities.

HEALTH SECTOR: INCREASED INVESTMENT IN QUALITY HEALTHCARE

President Boakai stressed that the draft FY2027 Budget aims to improve investment in the health sector. The allocation rose from US$110.9 million in FY2026 to US$135.8 million in FY2027, representing an increase of US$24.9 million, or approximately 22 percent.

The increased allocation will support the expansion and operationalization of health facilities, procurement of essential medical equipment and supplies as well as the recruitment and improved compensation of health professionals.

Key interventions in the health sector include Funding for the staffing, equipping, and full operationalization of the New Redemption Hospital. The investment plan for the health sector also projected US$5.3 million for upgrading the John F. Kennedy Medical Center, including dialysis machines and other critical medical equipment.

About US $ 15.3 million has also been proposed for infrastructure improvements and medical equipment at the JFD Memorial Hospital.

Other investment proposal targets:

US$1 million for the Community Pharmacy Program to sustain the supply of essential medicines, particularly in rural government health facilities.

US$1.5 million for the construction of the National Public Health Institute of Liberia headquarters.

US$1.5 million for the continuation of construction works at C.H. Rennie Hospital in Margibi County.

US$800,000 in start-up funding to strengthen the national response to Hepatitis B.

These proposed investments underscore the Government’s determination to improve healthcare delivery, strengthen medical infrastructure, and expand access to essential health services across the country.

EDUCATION: US$163.5 MILLION ALLOCATION AND US$7 MILLION FOR UNIVERSITY OF LIBERIA RENOVATION

President Joseph Nyuma Boakai told the legislature that it is important to invest in the education sector in the amount of US$163.5 million in FY2027, up from US$143.6 million in FY2026, representing an increase of approximately US$20 million, or 13.9 percent.

A major highlight in the education proposal is the allocation of US$7 million for the continuation of renovation and furnishing works at the University of Liberia, reaffirming the Government’s commitment to restoring and modernizing the country’s premier public university and improving the learning environment for students and faculty.

Other priority investment proposals include US$1.5 million for the continued renovation of Monrovia Consolidated School System (MCSS) schools, US$1 million for completion of the new Engineering College at William V.S. Tubman University, and US$750,000 for the construction of Grand Kru Technical College.

The budget also provides US$700,000 for the ongoing transformation of the Booker Washington Institute, US$400,000 for an integrated higher education information management system, and US$400,000 for the renovation of Margibi University.

Additional investments in digital technology, STEM education, and improved national examination infrastructure will support the modernization of Liberia’s education system.

PUBLIC SECTOR SALARY ADJUSTMENTS: OVER 17,000 WORKERS TO BENEFIT

President Boakai stressed that “in keeping with our commitment to address salary inequities inherited by this government, which cannot be addressed in one fiscal year, we began to institute a multi-year strategy to improve the remuneration and conditions of service of government workers.

The President further emphasized that “beginning FY2025, we reversed “harmonization” at the Judiciary, affecting judges of the Supreme Court and subordinate courts, as well as the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC). We have also significantly regularized salaries in the health sector, benefiting registered nurses, medical doctors, specialists, consultants, midwives, and anesthetists. We ensured that no one on the central Government payroll makes less than US$150 in gross salary and provided top-ups to some AFL personnel, police officers, agriculture extension officers, firefighters, and LDEA officers. We also bankrolled the insurance for police officers. Additionally, we enrolled more than 2,000 teachers and 1,500 health workers on the Government payroll”.

Giving the government’s salary adjustments interventions for 2026, the President in his Budget Message highlighted the following:

Reversal of “harmonization” at the General Auditing Commission (GAC).

Reversal of “harmonization” at the Judiciary, benefiting magistrates and associate magistrates. Pay increases for LDEA officers, engineers, and PPCC staff.

Covered the compensation of employees at the ELWA Hospital, ensuring the continuity of essential health service delivery at a major health facility in the country.

Enrollment of more than 800 chiefs and local government officials on the payroll.

Enrollment of more than 2000 volunteers in the health and education sectors.

FY2027 Compensation Related Interventions

President Boakai added that in continuation of the government’s multi-year public sector wage reform program, significant provisions in the FY2027 budget will address salary disparities, improve remuneration, and expand employment opportunities within the public service.

More than 17,000 individuals are expected to benefit from various compensation interventions, comprising nearly 13,000 government workers receiving salary increases and approximately 4,350 new hires, including volunteers.

A major component of this intervention is the standardization of salaries for qualified teachers across government schools, whether operated by the Ministry of Education or the Monrovia Consolidated School System.

Under the proposed adjustments, teachers with master’s degrees will receive a minimum monthly salary of US$650; teachers with bachelor’s degrees will receive a minimum of US$400; associate degree and B-Certificate teachers will receive US$240; C-Certificate teachers will receive US$200; County Education Officers’ salaries will increase to US$1,200, while District Education Officers will receive US$700; and no dean of a publicly operated university will earn less than US$1,000 monthly.

President Boakai also highlighted improvement in pay thresholds for 1,934 Liberia National Police personnel, a 15 percent salary increase for 616 Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency employees, and salary adjustments benefiting 358 health workers across 146 health facilities and offices.

Beginning January 2027, higher minimum salary thresholds will apply, including US$500 for directors, US$450 for deputy directors, US$400 for assistant directors, and US$300 for mayors of government-approved cities.

NASSCORP: GOVERNMENT COMMITS TO REGULAR CONTRIBUTIONS AND SETTLEMENT OF ARREARS

In a significant policy development aimed at protecting the retirement security of public servants, President Boakai has acknowledged and confirmed outstanding obligations of nearly US$60 million to the National Social Security and Welfare Corporation (NASSCORP), representing accumulated and unremitted employer contributions over several years.

Beginning in 2027, the Government commits to fully providing for the statutory six percent employer contribution on public servants’ wages while simultaneously addressing accumulated arrears through an amortization schedule.

This policy will ensure regular remittance of government employees’ social security contributions and progressively settle outstanding obligations. It is intended to restore confidence in the pension system and provide retiring public servants with greater assurance that their full NASSCORP benefits will be available when they leave active service.

The measure represents an important recognition of the sacrifices of public servants and the Government’s responsibility to safeguard their welfare beyond their years of active employment, President Boakai stressed.

YOUTH EMPOWERMENT: EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG LIBERIANS

The draft FY2027 budget also prioritizes youth development through expanded opportunities for skills acquisition, employment, entrepreneurship, and sports development.

Key interventions include strengthening the National Cadet and Internship Program, expanding Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), and providing livelihood and skills-development opportunities for at-risk and out-of-school youth.

President Boakai also proposed allocation of US$2 million to empower commercial motorcyclists, including the construction of rest stops at strategic locations. Additionally, US$3 million has been provided to support the Lone Star National Football Team in fulfillment of the President’s commitment made about two months ago, alongside US$650,000 to support veteran Lone Star players in advancing youth sports development.

In another major employment intervention, the President has proposed Armed Forces of Liberia and the Liberia National Police to recruit 1,400 young people, comprising 800 recruits for the AFL and 600 for the LNP.

The draft budget further provides increased support for youth and student organizations, including Liberia National Student Union, Federation of Liberian Youth, and the Mano River Union Youth Parliament, while expanding access to small business grants under the National Empowerment Program.

WOMEN, CHILDREN AND SOCIAL PROTECTION: 77 PERCENT INCREASE IN GENDER ALLOCATION

President Boakai has proposed a substantial 77 percent increase in the allocation to the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection targeting women’s empowerment, child protection, and social inclusion.

The increased funding will support social protection interventions, the prevention and response to sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), the provision of safe homes, and increased assistance to vulnerable populations, including abandoned children.

Other key interventions include US$2.5 million for small business support, largely targeting women-led enterprises, and increased support for rural women’s communal farming initiatives.

The budget also provides US$1.4 million in initial funding toward the construction of a National Children’s Referral Hospital, alongside US$3 million for the continuation of the national school feeding program.

These investments demonstrate the Government’s commitment to advancing women’s economic participation, protecting vulnerable children, and strengthening the social safety net, the President emphasized.

In conclusion, President Boakai stressed that the budget is not only bigger in size but also evidently bigger in potential impact. He also anticipates expeditious legislative actions in the spirit of coordination between the executive and the legislature.