House of Representatives Endorses Major Amendments to the Local Government Act of 2018

MONROVIA, LIBERIA: The Plenary of the House of Representatives has voted to endorse and amend the Local Government Act of 2018, following the submission of a detailed report from the Joint Committees on Judiciary and Internal Affairs.

The Committees were tasked with reviewing the Local Government Act of 2018 and advising Plenary on targeted reforms aimed at strengthening local governance and advancing decentralization across Liberia.

According to the report presented to Plenary, the review process involved broad national consultations and two well-attended public hearings on July 16, 2025, and November 5, 2025.

Stakeholders captured in the national consultations included: the Law Reform Commission, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Governance Commission, and Civil Society Organizations.

Participants shared expert views on decentralization, public sector reform, administrative efficiency, and governance challenges within the existing law.

During the deliberations, the Joint Committees and expert witnesses analyzed the legal, structural, and policy implications of the proposed changes.

The deliberations focused on strengthening the national decentralization framework, enhancing accountability and service delivery at the local level, aligning local governance with national development priorities, promoting fiscal transparency and autonomy, and improving coordination between local authorities and the Legislature.

The Committees stressed that updating the 2018 Act is essential to: address new administrative realities, correcting inconsistencies hindering implementation, building an efficient and responsive local governance structure, and expanding citizen participation in local decision-making.

After thorough legal review and expert consultation, the Joint Committees recommended amendments to the following sections 2.1h; 2.2b; 2.2d; 2.2e; 2.3; 2.4; 2.5; 2.8; 2.9; 3.7, along with the creation of new sections establishing selection criteria, a new Chapter 3, and provisions for the full application of the Public Financial Management (PFM) Law of 2009 to local structures.

The amended version of the Local Government Act of 2018 will be titled “An Act to Amend Certain Sections of the New Title 20 of the Local Government Act of 2018, Liberian Codes of Laws Revised or the Local Government Act of 2025.”

The Joint Committees expressed confidence that the amendments will strengthen local governance systems, improve administrative efficiency, increase citizen participation in county-level development, and advance the national decentralization agenda in line with the 1986 Constitution.

Following the passage of the bill, its sponsor, Representative Jeremiah G. Sokan, thanked his colleagues and co-sponsors for their support.

Representative Sokan expressed optimism as the engrossed bill moves to the Liberian Senate for concurrence.