CAPITIL HILL, Monrovia – Speaker of the House of Representatives, Richard Nagbe Koon, has dissected the progress and challenges of that august body following months of legislative duties over the last quarter.
In his closing remarks at the closure of the second quarter of the 55th Legislature, the House Speaker first commended lawmakers for their legislative achievements and urged them to deepen citizen engagement as the House formally closed the second quarter of its second session.
Speaker Koon expressed profound gratitude to his colleagues for reaffirming their confidence in his leadership during the May 12 Speakership election as he pledged to continue steering the body with inclusiveness, integrity, and commitment to national interest.
“I take your reaffirmation very seriously. It has strengthened my resolve to lead with inclusiveness, integrity, and in the best interest of this honorable body,” Speaker Koon said.
Legislative Milestones
Outlining the quarter’s accomplishments, Speaker Koon highlighted the passage of several key legislative instruments aimed at promoting good governance and accountability.
Among them, he said was the ratification of a loan agreement with the OPEC Fund for International Development for the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone Project and the ratification of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights establishing an African Court.
Statically, he disclosed that the House held 19 regular sittings, three executive sessions, and two special sessions. During this period, it passed 19 bills initiated by representatives, 11 from the Executive, and 12 from the Senate. Additionally, one joint resolution was endorsed.
Challenges Outlined
Despite the progress, Speaker Koon outlined some legislative hitches during the second quarter sitting of the House.
Key of these challenges, he disclosed that 36 bills remain under committee review – 15 from representatives, eight from the President, and another eight from the Senate. He noted that four resolutions and one petition are also undergoing scrutiny.
“In all, this body acted on a total of 116 instruments, including 85 communications from lawmakers, five from the Executive, 22 from institutions, and four from individuals. But we are left with 36 bills in committee room,” Speaker Koon asserted.
Call for Inclusive Representation
Having formally acknowledged receipt of the validated results of the 2022 National Population and Housing Census from the Liberia Institute for Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS), he urged the Joint Committee on Elections and Inauguration, Judiciary, and Good Governance to begin work on a new electoral threshold based on the census data.
Speaker Koon, who had in recent times craved the need for more women at the Legislature as a means to promote gender equity and inclusivity, he proposed that any newly created seats in the Legislature be exclusively reserved for women, along with one seat set aside for persons living with disabilities.
“I call on us to seize this moment to make history by institutionalizing representation for groups that have been long underrepresented in this chamber,” the House Speaker declared.
Oversight and Fiscal Support
Speaker Koon praised the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) for timely disbursements that enabled the House to fulfill its operational mandates.
He called on standing and statutory committees to continue their work during the recess, thus sounding a special appeal to the Public Accounts and Audit Committee to advance public hearings and submit comprehensive reports.
“As we reflect on the quarter gone by, let us recommit ourselves to our solemn oath to serve with honor, diligence, and patriotism. He encouraged lawmakers to use the break to engage constituents and prepare for a productive third quarter,” added the Speaker.
