Monrovia – The Liberian Senate on Tuesday, November 18 moved forward with the affirmation of Fatima Bintu Sirleaf as Deputy Minister for City Affairs within the Ministry of Inner Affairs, regardless of her public admission that she had earlier misled lawmakers about her tutorial credentials whereas beneath oath.
By Obediah Johnson
The choice has stirred intense nationwide debate and raised new considerations about transparency, integrity and the requirements guiding legislative approvals of presidential nominees.
Madam Sirleaf’s affirmation got here almost a month after her contentious look earlier than the Senate Committee on Inner Affairs, Peace, Reconciliation and Native Authorities, the place she had initially declared that she possessed a Grasp’s Diploma in Social Work with emphasis on Psychological Well being and Substance Abuse and a minor in City Improvement.
That declare instantly turned the middle of public criticism and legislative scrutiny, significantly after senators questioned whether or not the educational credential she cited existed on the establishment she attended in the US.
Senator J. Gblehbo Brown of Maryland County, who co-chairs the Committee on Native Authorities, pressed her on how knowledgeable background rooted in social work and psychological well being aligned with the technical calls for of city affairs.
He pointed to Liberia’s urgent challenges in city planning, inhabitants development and social instability, elevating doubts about whether or not her experience ready her to information nationwide city insurance policies. Madam Sirleaf insisted throughout that look that her coaching in what she described as city growth geared up her with the capability to handle points affecting quickly increasing cities.
She referenced her work in the US supporting individuals combating dependancy and confused that the identical expertise may contribute to designing rehabilitation methods inside Liberia’s city facilities.
Nevertheless, an investigative report revealed by FrontPage Africa revealed that Kean College, the American establishment the place Madam Sirleaf earned her diploma, doesn’t provide a minor or any program described as City Improvement beneath its social work curriculum.
This revelation intensified public criticism and heightened the controversy, because the claims had been made throughout sworn testimony earlier than the Senate. The matter amounted to giving false data beneath oath, lending it weight beneath Liberian legislation that considers such an act a violation of public belief and an offense equal to perjury.
Her failure to outline the time period “authorities” when questioned throughout the identical listening to additionally added to the rising skepticism concerning her preparedness for a nationwide management place.
The Senate committee postponed its report for a number of weeks whereas public strain mounted. Civil society organizations, political commentators and atypical residents known as for the Senate to disclaim her affirmation on ethical and procedural grounds. As the times handed, the difficulty gained traction as a check of the Legislature’s willingness to demand accuracy, honesty and competence from these looking for public workplace.
It was beneath these circumstances that Madam Sirleaf reappeared earlier than the Senate committee on Monday, November 17, throughout which she withdrew her earlier statements, apologized and corrected the report. She defined that she holds a Grasp’s Diploma in Social Work with specialised research in psychological well being and substance abuse and concrete growth.
She described her declare of getting a minor in city growth as an error, stating that her coaching nonetheless aligns with city resilience, group growth and social methods.
The next day, in the course of the Senate’s common session, tensions once more rose when the committee’s report instantly appeared on the agenda with out having been circulated to senators, a step required beneath the Senate’s standing guidelines.
This prompted Grand Kru County Senator Albert Chie to boost procedural objections, noting that no vote needs to be taken earlier than senators had reviewed the report. Senate Professional Tempore Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence initially upheld the objection and introduced a postponement of the affirmation listening to to Thursday.
Earlier than lengthy, nonetheless, her place shifted after discussions with a handful of senators, together with those that had raised considerations. In an surprising flip, the Professional Tempore introduced that the affirmation would proceed the identical day, then withdrew from presiding and left the chamber. Senator Abraham Darius Dillon, Chair of the Senate Committee on International Affairs, took over presiding duties for the vote.
When the matter was lastly put to vote, seventeen senators voted in favor of confirming Madam Sirleaf, whereas solely Senator Invoice Twehway of Rivercess County opposed the affirmation. He didn’t instantly present causes for his dissenting vote, however political observers have speculated that his determination could be tied to considerations over the nominee’s credibility and the broader implications of accepting inaccurate testimony throughout the affirmation course of.
The vote concluded a day that had begun with robust public expectations that the Senate would take a agency stance on moral governance. Experiences later emerged {that a} closed-door assembly within the workplace of the Senate Professional Tempore performed a decisive function in softening opposition amongst a small bloc of senators who had expressed dissatisfaction over the nominee’s earlier statements and the procedural dealing with of the report. The assembly reportedly lasted a number of hours and concluded with an settlement to maneuver ahead with the affirmation.
The Senate’s determination has since sparked widespread nationwide discourse on the energy of Liberia’s oversight establishments and the requirements required for people looking for public workplace.
Critics imagine the Senate could have undermined its ethical authority by accepting an apology rather than penalties for false sworn testimony, whereas supporters argue that her clarification needs to be enough to permit her to serve and that her skilled background in social methods may nonetheless contribute meaningfully to city growth initiatives.
