MONROVIA – The President Pro Tempore of the Liberian Senate, Senator Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence, formally opened the 2nd Quarter of the 2nd Session of the 55th Legislature on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, with a detailed summary of legislative performance, reform progress, and a renewed focus on oversight responsibilities.
Welcoming senators back from constituency engagements, Karnga-Lawrence commended her colleagues for maintaining unity, productivity, and cooperation across party lines. She presented a report covering the Senate’s activities from January 16 to March 25, 2025, during which 17 pieces of legislation were passed, including one ratification, one amendment, and 15 enactments. The Senate also received 75 nominees from the executive branch, confirming 47 of them, while 33 legislative instruments remain in committee rooms.
Providing an update on governance and institutional reforms, the Pro Tempore revealed that the first draft of a Senate Strategic Plan has been completed and awaits leadership review. She emphasized that this plan will serve as the foundation for all ongoing and future reform efforts.
On financial management, the Senate renewed the contract of its Financial Consultant, who collaborated with the finance team to produce the 2024 annual financial reports. Several draft policy manuals, including those on fixed assets, fuel distribution, and petty cash, have been prepared and are pending approval.
In technology upgrades, Karnga-Lawrence reported that the Starlink internet system is now fully integrated, stabilizing Wi-Fi access across the Senate. Official email accounts have been activated for all senators and key staff, with IT support available for device setup.
The Pro Tempore also announced the installation of a biometric time and attendance system to enhance payroll accuracy, productivity, and accountability among Senate staff. This move, she noted, aligns with Executive Order #147 on digital transformation.
As part of her speech, Karnga-Lawrence highlighted the Senate’s continued focus on its oversight duties. She called for prompt committee reports on the disbursement of funds to health facilities, teacher payroll and training, and the use of road funds. Notably, she urged an investigation into the $200 million loan acquired under the STAR-P and RETRAP projects in 2021, emphasizing the need to track how the funds were used, especially the $124 million intended for roads and $40 million earmarked for smallholder farmers.
Commending recent road development efforts, she stressed equitable distribution of road funds across all counties and tasked the Public Works Committee with reviewing upcoming infrastructure plans. She also flagged reported violations of the Road Fund Act and announced an investigation to safeguard proper implementation.
Karnga-Lawrence confirmed that a Senate delegation has been invited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to participate in the final voting phase of Liberia’s bid for a seat on the United Nations Security Council. She reaffirmed the Senate’s full support for the country’s campaign.
Recognizing exceptional committee performance, the Pro Tempore announced that the Committee on Concessions, chaired by Senator Numena Bartekwa, had earned the Pro Tempore’s Committee Award. She praised the committee’s work with oversight institutions and revealed that its upcoming presentation will offer recommendations on better management of the country’s natural resources, especially in the extractive industries. This could lead to another Senate retreat focused on crafting a roadmap to enhance national revenue through more effective resource governance.
Karnga-Lawrence concluded by announcing the planned induction of Hon. Samuel Kogar as the new senator of Nimba County on Thursday, May 15, instructing the Committee on Rules, Order, and Administration to proceed accordingly.
She expressed optimism for the quarter ahead and thanked her colleagues for their commitment to national progress.
