The Liberian Senate appraises itself here, grading its performance for the First Sitting as poor.
By Lincoln G. Peters
Monrovia, Liberia, January 14, 2025 – Senate Pro-Tempore Nyonblee Kangar Lawrence says the Senate was ineffective during its first sitting in 2024, with dangling legislative oversights and functions of senators, while urging a more aggressive and robust senate.
The second Session of the 55th Liberia Legislature officially opened here on Monday, January 13, 2025, with a series of activities in keeping with Article 32 (a) of the Constitution of Liberia states that the Legislature shall assemble in regular session on the second working Monday of January each year.
During the program, members of the legislature paraded and hosted flags of all 15 political sub-divisions, followed by an indoor program where Senate Pro-Temp Kangar Lawrence delivered a firing speech to awaken the consciousness of her colleagues for a more progressive senate. According to her, she envisages a more robust and progressive Senate in 2025.
“Today, we are here to resume the 2nd Session of the 55th Legislature. I wish to present a summary report of the 1st Session, including the current state of the Senate governance and financial management practices. In keeping with our oversight responsibilities, we would like to see a more aggressive approach from all Committees on tracking budget programs and implementation in all sectors. We would like to have a quarterly performance report from all ministries and agencies through the committees for debates and actions”, the Pro-Tempore says.
She calls on the ways, means, and finance committee to ensure that the Ministry of Finance provides quarterly disbursement reports to encourage timely payments to sectors for the timely execution of projects and programs needed for the country’s growth and development and the well-being of the people.
Leading the way for robust action, Senator Kangar Lawrence specifically mandates the Committee on Public Works report a weekly list of road projects in the budget, their locations, costs, and timelines, including outstanding projects.
“The Committee on Energy and Environment is mandated to finalize an assessment of the Senate building by the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) to install a meter to pay our electricity bills. We want to take the lead in paying bills for the entity’s sustainability and hold all Government Ministries and Agencies accountable for doing the same.”
Meanwhile, providing legislation statistics summary from January to December 2024, she discloses that they have a Report on the Senate governance and financial management practices by championing significant reforms for accountability, transparency, and efficiency.
However, she notes that these reforms address longstanding challenges and pave the way for sustainable improvements.
At the same time, she presents a summary of achievements, work in progress, and future outlook of the Senate with a total of 27 legislations passed, 18 ratified, three (3) amendments, six (6) enactments, 996 Nominees confirmed, and 40 Legislations in Committee Rooms.
“As a result of these reports, I wish to inform all Committees that the agenda for the first three months will focus on all bills in Committee Rooms,” Pro-Temp Kangar Lawrence reports.
She says all Committees are required to report on a weekly basis as of Tuesday, January 21, 2025, on Bills in committee rooms, warning that failure to submit on two occasions will result in setting up of Ad-hoc Committees or Committee-of-the-Whole to expedite these processes.
“The Secretary of the Senate will officially communicate to all relevant Committees by tomorrow, January 14, 2025. Some of the 40 Bills that need to be prioritized are An act to amend Chapter 31 of the Executive Law of 1972 to establish the Liberia Tourism Authority;
An Act to amend Title 30 of the Public Authority Law, Liberia Code of Laws Revised to establish the Liberia National Tourism Authority; an Act to ratify the Protocol to the African Chapter on Human and People’s Rights on the establishment of an African Court on Human and People’s Rights”, she adds.
Senator Kangar Lawrence also names an Act to establish the Liberia Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Commission, an Act to establish the Liberia Capitol Police (LCP) 2024, the Zoning Law of Liberia 2024, the Presidential Transitional Act of 2024, the Decent Work Act, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex, the Ministry of Local Government, An Act to amend Chapter 4, Sections 4.2, 4.3, and 4.4 of the Criminal Procedure Law on Statute of Limitations, the elections law and the census report. Editing by Jonathan Browne
