CAPITOL HILL, Monrovia – The persevering with delays within the issuance of Liberian Residents Identification Card coupled with public pronouncement/directions that mentioned identification are sole acknowledged for the transactions of banking providers and different providers has drawn the Plenary of the Home of Representatives and has instantly cited the pinnacle and key officers of the Nationwide Identification Registry (NIR).
Invitation of the NIR bosses was triggered by a communication from Bong County Salala District (Electoral #6) Moima Dabah Briggs-Mensah, amid mounting issues over persistent delays within the issuance of Nationwide Identification Playing cards, in any other case often known as the residents ID Card.
In her communication, Rep. Briggs-Mensah, who can also be the Chairperson of the Home Committee on Gender Fairness, Baby Growth, and Social Companies, highlighted the frustrations confronted by hundreds of Liberians.
She identified that rural residents, authorities staff, contractors, and susceptible teams are unable to entry vital monetary providers as a result of delays in receiving their nationwide ID playing cards, regardless of finishing the complete registration course of, together with biometric seize and cost.
The Bong County lawmaker described the scenario as an embarrassing nationwide scenario that must be addressed with urgency because the Nationwide ID Card is now a prerequisite for cashing or receiving any government-issued verify because of Govt Order 126 issued by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai.
She argued that the issuance and implementation of this order proceed to have unintended penalties and additional undermine the usage of the Liberian passport – a acknowledged nationwide and worldwide identification doc.
“The Liberian passport, issued beneath the authority of the Republic, stays a legit and internationally accepted ID doc and ought to be exempted from this restriction,” the lawmaker harassed.
“This Govt Order on the NIR is a critical subject, it’s truly a nationwide embarrassment. That is devaluing our passport. The factor right here is that a lot of the designated locations for the residents ID card aren’t working and persons are coming to Monrovia only for this ID card. That is extra irritating to our residents. The NIR officers should come right here to clarify to us a method additional for enchancment,” she asserted when given a couple of minutes to develop on the matter.
Rep. Briggs-Mensah’s communication needs the Legislature to contemplate in its findings, the difficulty of the exclusion of the Liberian passport as a legitimate type of identification for banking and public transactions.
In a startling revelation, NIR Govt Director, Mr. Andrew Peters held a information convention Monday night through which he disclosed that the citizen ID could be an essential doc for future voters’ registration, whereby residents will probably be allowed to register on the places the place their nationwide ID playing cards had been issued.
On this foundation, Bong County District #2 Consultant, James Kolleh backed Rep. Briggs-Mensah’s request for the looks of the NIR officers to offer a greater rationalization of the matter.
Grand Bassa County District #5 Consultant, Thomas Goshua says the most recent improvement raises extra questions than solutions and as such, he helps the looks of the NIR officers.
“The newest data we’re getting has raised extra issues over why NIR individuals have to be introduced right here. Already, the method has brought on big embarrassment for the individuals. Mr. Peter and the group have to be introduced right here to provide clarification. If that was the case as we’re listening to, there was a necessity for training earlier than continuing any additional,” Rep. Goshua asserted.
The Home of Representatives is anticipated to behave on the request within the coming days, with many lawmakers expressing assist for an intensive overview of the NIR’s operations and the broader implications of the Govt Order on residents’ entry to public providers.
Following the studying of the communication and subsequent plenary deliberation, a movement was made by Nimba County District #4 Consultant, Ernest Manseah for the NIR officers to be invited Thursday, June 19, 2025 earlier than full plenary owing to the urgency of the matter coupled with the most recent data.
The movement was then unanimously voted upon with the common ‘YEAH” vote throughout the ground of the Decrease Home of the Liberian Legislature.
Our Legislative reporter says the current revelation by NIR has critical reactions from lawmakers.
Whereas the denial of different legitimate nationwide paperwork has been embarrassing throughout the nation; nonetheless, tying the issuance to the voting course of, many Liberians consider is the fitting step in the fitting course as it’s going to curtail the damming act of voters trucking.
