MONROVIA – Members of the Liberian Senate are flexing their legislative authority in opposition to native county officers, notably Superintendents and County Council members, for allegedly excluding them and failing to offer experiences on the expenditure of County and Social Improvement Funds.
By Obediah Johnson, [email protected]
The County Council, established below the Native Authorities Act of 2018, contains 9 members, together with representatives from youth teams, individuals with disabilities, girls’s organizations, conventional leaders, elders, and civil society. It serves as the best policy-making and legislative physique on the county degree.
On Tuesday, July 15, 2025, authorities from the Ministry of Inside Affairs, together with all 15 Superintendents and County Council members, appeared earlier than the Liberian Senate Plenary for a greater than three-hour public listening to. The session adopted a proper grievance filed by Grand Cape Mount County Senator Simeon Taylor.
In the course of the listening to, Senator Taylor alleged that for the reason that institution of the County Council in Grand Cape Mount, the Superintendent has did not introduce its members to lawmakers. He additional claimed that the Superintendent and a few Council members have been allocating stipends to themselves with out legislative consent, in violation of Part 2.9 of the Native Authorities Act.
Part 2.9 of the Act states that County Council members are entitled to obtain an honorarium from the county price range, however the Nationwide Legislature should first set a ceiling, which can be revised each 4 years.
“This has not been carried out,” mentioned Senator Taylor. “They’re paying themselves no matter they need. We must always decide their salaries or advantages, not the opposite means round.”
Taylor additionally claimed that these native officers function independently, asserting full authority below the Act whereas ignoring lawmakers’ oversight obligations.
“They insult us after we ask questions,” he mentioned. “They refuse to submit experiences or share budgets.”
He raised additional issues in regards to the lack of transparency within the Council’s price range formulation, questioning the legitimacy of some civil society representatives serving on the Council.
“There’s rising battle of curiosity,” he mentioned. “Some Council members allocate funds to CSOs for questionable functions.”
Different Senators Echo Considerations
Senator Dabah Varpilah of Grand Cape Mount echoed comparable frustrations, citing poor coordination and lack of information-sharing between County Councils and lawmakers.
“As leaders of those counties, we should be knowledgeable about how growth funds are used,” she acknowledged. “Allow us to not interpret each oversight try as a witch hunt.”
Gbarpolu County Senator Gbotoe Kanneh took goal at native officers she accused of harboring political ambitions, claiming some are utilizing public funds to place themselves for Senate races.
She particularly accused her Superintendent of planning to run in opposition to her and alleged that her corruption grievance has been ignored because of political interference.
Calls to Repeal Native Authorities Act
Grand Gedeh Senator Thomas Yaya Nimely warned that the Legislature could scale back the powers granted to native officers below the Act.
“We gave you simply two enamel with this Act—and also you’re already making an attempt to chew us,” he mentioned. “We will take away these two enamel.”
Bomi County Senator Edwin Snowe known as for a repeal of the Native Authorities Act, citing lack of oversight and alleged misuse of county assets.
“They’re shopping for brand-new pickups with out legislative approval,” he mentioned. “Many of the Council Chairs are civil society actors—there’s no noise, no checks.”
Senate Professional Tempore Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence emphasised that County and Social Improvement Funds should profit native communities—not simply officers.
“Funds shouldn’t be used to renovate county places of work,” she mentioned. “Lawmakers should not intervene in mission implementation however keep clear oversight.”
She warned that direct involvement in mission execution may compromise the Senate’s oversight operate.
Inside Affairs Minister Responds
Inside Affairs Minister Francis Nyumalin apologized for any misconduct by native officers however disclosed he has acquired no formal complaints from the Senate.
“I’ve no written information of complaints from any Senator,” he mentioned. “Senator Kanneh bypassed my workplace and wrote on to the President.”
He mentioned Senator Taylor despatched him a voice recording complaining in regards to the Grand Cape Mount County Council Chair, who has since resigned.
Nyumalin clarified that no member of the County Council is permitted to obtain compensation except a price range ceiling is ready by the Legislature—a step the Legislature itself has but to take, regardless of reminders.
“If any county price range contains compensation for Council members, the native administration must be held accountable,” he famous.
He additionally decried the Nationwide Legislature’s failure to allocate the Ministry’s requested operational price range, noting {that a} $2.5 million line merchandise was fully reduce.
However, Nyumalin assured lawmakers that no Superintendent below his watch would disrespect the Legislature and pledged swift disciplinary actions the place needed.
Background on the Act
Chapter II, Part 2.2 of the Native Authorities Act outlines the County Council’s features, together with approving county growth plans and budgets and enacting native legal guidelines and ordinances.
Regardless of its meant position in decentralizing governance and selling citizen participation, the implementation of the Act has drawn criticism from lawmakers who say civil society inclusion has undermined advocacy and accountability.
Lawmakers themselves have been accused of interfering with County Councils and beforehand with Undertaking Administration Committees (PMCs), usually awarding growth contracts to corporations they secretly personal or management—practices which have led to the abandonment of quite a few growth initiatives nationwide.
