By: Joseph F. Daniels – jfdaniels95@gmail.com
Naymote Partners for Democratic Development 2nd Edition of Legislative Digest Report has revealed that the 54th National Legislature dismally performed in its lawmaking and oversight responsibilities in 2022.
The current Legislature is under the leadership of Speaker Bhofal Chambers, Representative of Maryland County.
According to the report, The Legislature passed a total of 53 bills during the year 2022, of which 35 (66%) originated from the Executive/presidency, 12 (23%) from the House of Representatives, and 6 (11%) from the Senate.
Critics have usually accused the Legislature of allegedly receiving bribe “knowing as brown envelope” to enable speedy passage of instruments emanating from the presidency.
The report also highlights that the Legislature has failed to provide proper oversight for Ministries and Agencies thereby allowing entities of Government to function without accountability.
“The Legislature oversight of the implementation of the enacted laws, by the executive branch, remains weak, Naymote Executive Director Eddie Jarwolo said at a Press Conference on Tuesday in Paynesville City.
During the year, over 64 million United States Dollars was allocated to the National Legislature in the Country’s National Budget.
The Naymote Boss Eddie Jarwolo said “there are no available financial records to account use of such money”.
“The assessment found that the Legislature held 167 sittings, of which 106 (63%) were regular sittings, 36 (22%) were secret/executive sittings, 9 (5%) were special sittings, 16 (10%) were extraordinary sittings. There were 29 public hearings held during the year. All secretsittings were held by the House of Representatives in 2022” the report added.
In an overall assessment for the past years 2018-2022, the report detailed that the Liberian Legislature has passed 182 bills of which 43 constituting 24% originated from the House of Representatives, 20 (11%) from the Senate, and 119 (65%) from the Executive/Presidency.
The annual budget of the Legislature, 2018 – 2022, accounted forUS$228,666,183.00. Despite the huge financial support to the Legislature, the body does not have any regular (official) publications on its activities, no official website for public information.
The Legislature continues to come under public scrutiny with many describing it as the problem of Liberia due to that august body actions and inactions.
This Second Edition of Naymote Partner for Democratic Development Legislative Digest Report comes at a majority members of that lawmaking body will be seeking reelections in the October 10, 2023 General Elections.