Monrovia– On Monday, January 6, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai signed into law the National Budget for Fiscal Year 2025, totaling 880,661,874 United States dollars.
According to an Executive Mansion, the signing ceremony took place at the President’s Rehab Office in Paynesville City, marking a significant milestone in the governance and economic development of the Republic of Liberia.
In his remarks, President Boakai expressed satisfaction with the timely completion of the budget process and underscored the urgent need for its effective implementation.
“The time for action is here. This budget is not just numbers on paper; it represents our commitment to addressing the needs of our people and achieving national development goals,” the President stated.
The Legislature concluded its deliberations on the budget on December 20, 2024, when the Senate concurred with the House of Representatives’ proposed financial instrument.
Now signed into law, the budget serves as the legal and operational framework for the Government of Liberia’s programs and activities in the coming fiscal year.
The FY 2025 National Budget, the Executive Mansion noted, reflects the administration’s priorities of fostering economic growth, improving service delivery, enhancing social infrastructure, and creating opportunities for all Liberians.
According to the release, the signing ceremony was attended by key government officials, including the Vice President of the Republic of Liberia, Honorable Jeremiah Kpan Koung, and the Deputy Minister for Administration at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, Bill McGill Jones.
The release quotes the President as calling on all stakeholders to work collaboratively to ensure that the allocated resources translate into tangible outcomes for the benefit of the Liberian people.
Meanwhile, critics have raised concerns over the controversial passage of the budget. They allege that the process was conducted under the gavel of self-declared Speaker Richard Koon rather than the legitimate Speaker. These claims have sparked significant debate, with some Liberians, including former Associate Justice Kabineh Janeh, vowing to challenge the passage of the budget in court.
The controversy surrounding the legislative process has cast a shadow over the budget’s implementation, with critics arguing that any legal challenges could disrupt the government’s fiscal plans for the year.
