Capitol Hill, Monrovia – Internal Affairs Minister Francis Nyumalin has observed the occupying of various chieftaincy positions across the country by individuals who were not officially appointed or recommended to serve in those positions by the Government, through the Ministry.
By Obediah Johnson, [email protected]
Minister Nyumalin disclosed that in keeping with the Local Government Act of 2018 , the ministry is under obligation to create a database to enable the National Elections Commission (NEC) to subsequently conduct elections for chiefs as required by the 1986 Liberian Constitution.
He said prior to this, the Act also gives authority to the Minister responsible for Local Government to appoint acting Chiefs.
Minister Nyumalin made these assertions when he appeared before the Plenary of the “Majority Bloc” at the House of Representatives on Tuesday, November 12. ‘He appeared before the “Majority Bloc”, composed of a group of aggrieved members of the House of Representatives, along with the Minister of Transport Ralph Tyler and the Managing Director of the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC) Mohammed Ali.
Minister Nyumalin denied reports of calling and dismissing appointed chiefs serving in various towns, chiefdoms via telephone or written communication.He was accused by some local chiefs of allegedly dismissing them from their positions.
He noted that those claiming to have been dismissed were requested to forward their letters of appointment as Chiefs to authorities at the Ministry.
But communications forwarded to the ministry, according to him, came under the signatures of Commissioners, Statutory Superintendents or recommendations.
He stressed that individuals recommended by their local authorities in the county allegedly misconstrued their recommendations as their appointments to the positions.
“We realized that across the country, there are people holding chieftaincy positions and they are not appointed according to the Act. One of the Paramount Chiefs in this case was recommended by the honorable Superintendent of Lofa County to the Minister and that constituted an appointment to that Paramount Chief. The Superintendent at the time made the recommendation to the Minister of Internal Affairs and sent a copy of that recommendation to the Chief in question.”
Minister Nyumalin, however, promised to reinstate Chiefs that were appointed by the Minister of Internal Affairs in keeping with the Local Government Act and wrongly replaced.
“If there is any of those chiefs that will provide evidence of appointment by the Minister of Internal Affairs as Chief, we will reinstate them with immediate effect.”
He pointed out that Chiefs who should have been appointed by the Minister of Internal Affairs, but were instead appointed by the President, “their powers and authority ceased to exist upon the promulgation of the order issued by former President (George) Weah on December 22, 2023.”
Minister Nyumalin maintained that the functions of those Chiefs appointed by the ex-Liberian leader can no longer continue due to the inception of the Unity Party (UP) led-government of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai. As a result of this, he emphasized that authorities at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, acting in accordance with the new Local Government Act, may either retain those Chiefs or have them replaced based upon the recommendations from their people.
He recalled that President Boakai has already promised to ensure the election of Chiefs, despite not being held for several decades.
He observed that since 1986, no national election for Chieftaincy has been held in the country.
“As we speak to you, we are working with the National Elections Commission (NEC) and other stakeholders and we will be coming to you soon with a proposal to make money available so that by October 2026, chieftaincy elections can be held.”
He said the Ministry of Internal Affairs does not select members of the County Development Councils as being perceived in the public.
“The law provides that there are institutions existing in the various counties that constitute representation of these councils.”
Minister Nyumalin explained that the Council of Chiefs are represented on the Council by two local Chiefs, including representatives from the civil society, youth in the county.
He said the ministry is working with multilateral and bilateral partners to help train members of the various Development Councils in the county.
He stressed that this would require the establishment of a County Support Office (CSO) that would work with these Councils.
Minister Nyumalin underscored the need for those to be employed in CSOs to be legal counsels and experienced Administrators that would be evaluated by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Civil Service Agency (CSA) respectively.
“As we speak to you, we have been funded by donor partners to train members of the Councils and that training is vigorously ongoing.Whether they can read or write, there is no criteria in the law that you must be a college or high school graduate, no. You just need to be part of one of the organizations named in the legislation.”
He further noted that President Boakai does not know everyone who works in his government, as recommendations were made by others to have them incorporated into public service.
Minister Nyumalin said if there is any “human error” being observed on the part of any presidential appointee or anyone who does not meet the criteria to serve in government, authorities at the Ministry would accept the facts and advance the appropriate recommendations to the President.
“We can assure you that we will advise the President accordingly.”
The appearance of the three public officials before the Majority Bloc has clearly undressed the president’s decision to do business with the majority members of the House of Representatives.
Embattled House Speaker Koffa previously requested President Boakai to discourage his officials from appearing before the “majority bloc” on grounds that his aggrieved colleagues were illegally gathering.
But the executive did not respond to his request but delayed in submitting the draft national budget for Fiscal Year 2025 to embattled Speaker Koffa on grounds that the Liberian leader would consult his legal counsels to act on the budget.
With the latest decision taken by the executive to endorse the appearance of Ministers Nyumalin, Tyler and Managing Director Ali before the “majority bloc” it is now clear as to which side President Boakai will present the draft national budget for legislative enactment.
Members of the “majority bloc” at the House of Representatives have held several sittings in the Joint Chambers of the House of Representatives, accusing Speaker Koffa of alleged acts of corruption and calling for his resignation.
But embattled Speaker Koffa has denied the accusation and called on his colleagues to follow their rules and the Liberian constitution by returning to their original chamber and generating the 49 signatures needed to remove him from his position.
