For Snubbing Budget Hearings: House Holds State-Owned Enterprises in Contempt; Summons Justice Minister Tweh over Allegation of Interference

MONROVIA, LIBERIA: The House of Representatives has summoned all State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) for continued refusal to appear before the Committee on Ways, Means & Finance during ongoing Revenue Component Hearings for the Draft FY2025 National Budget.

Lawmakers announced that all SOE heads must appear before the full Plenary next Tuesday, December 2, 2025, warning that persistent absence is obstructing the legislative budget review process.

State-Owned Enterprises operate across key sectors—including energy, transportation, ports, and telecommunications—and are expected to provide critical financial data to support national revenue forecasting.

Legislators, however, expressed frustration that multiple invitations to these entities have gone unanswered, a move lawmakers fear could delay passage of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Budget and contribute to potential revenue gaps.

Plenary noted that all SOEs are legally mandated under the Public Financial Management (PFM) and Budget Laws to comply with legislative budget scrutiny. Their absence, lawmakers stressed, is not only “unacceptable” but also a direct challenge to the Legislature's authority.

In a heightened response, the House has instructed SOE executives to appear with their legal counsels to explain why they should not be held in contempt for actions deemed obstructive to the national budget process.

In a related development, the House has also summoned Justice Minister Oswald Tweh following reports that his office allegedly instructed a halt to the Liberia Revenue Authority’s (LRA) legal powers. These powers enable the LRA to enforce tax compliance—an essential source of revenue for the government.

Lawmakers are demanding a full legal explanation for what they have described as “potential interference with revenue enforcement.”

Similarly, the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) has been asked to appear and clarify the situation, particularly how the suspension may affect revenue projections in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget.

Despite the growing tensions, the House of Representatives reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring a transparent, accountable, and timely budget process that prioritizes the interests of the Liberian people.

Legislators emphasized that no institution, public or private, is exempt from oversight during the formulation of the national budget, and all entities must respect the rule of law and the constitutional mandate of the Legislature.