Lower House Takes Step to Amend Local Government Act to Strengthen County Oversight Responsibility

Monrovia, Liberia: The Lower House at Liberia’s bicameral Legislature is poised to repeal and amend key provisions of the Local Government Act of 2018, aimed at granting Legislative Caucuses greater oversight over county budgets and development plans.

The bill, titled “An Act To Repeal Section 2.2 Sub-Section (e & f) of the Local Government Act of 2018,” was introduced by Representative Jeremiah Sokan Sr. of Grand Gedeh Electoral District #1 during the Tenth Day Sitting of the Second Quarter of the Second Session of the 55th Legislature of Liberia.

Members of the Lower House emphasized that excluding the Legislative Caucuses from approving annual budgets and development plans undermines the principles of checks and balances, impeding transparency and accountability in local governance.

They believe this lack of involvement could hinder the effective management of county resources.

The proposed amendment seeks to repeal and replace Sub-Section 2.2(e), which covers the approval of the annual county budget, and Sub-Section 2.2(f), which pertains to the approval of county development plans and their implementation.

Following the reading of the draft bill, the Plenary tasked the Committees on Good Governance, Ways and Means and Finance, Internal Affairs, and Judiciary to review the proposal and present their recommendations within two weeks.