“PICKUPS WON’T SILENCE US!” WONGBE DEMANDS ANSWERS OVER US$5M CONSTITUENCY FUNDS, CHALLENGES HOUSE LEADERSHIP

Monrovia, Liberia:Nimba County District #9 Representative Taa Z. Wongbe has mounted a fierce challenge against the leadership of the House of Representatives, demanding a full account of more than US$5 million reportedly allocated for constituency development projects and warning that the distribution of pickup trucks will not silence lawmakers demanding financial transparency. Wongbe insists that the growing dispute within the Legislature is not about personal benefits but about public money, unexplained financial transactions, and the leadership’s obligation to account for funds intended to improve the lives of ordinary Liberians.

In an open letter to Deputy Speaker Thomas P. Fallah, Wongbe rejected Fallah’s characterization of the lawmakers’ grievances, describing it as misleading and arguing that the central issues remain unanswered. He maintained that the controversy cannot be reduced to disagreements over allowances when serious questions persist about the management of constituency development funds and the financial decisions being made within the House.

“Pickups” cannot resolve the dispute, Wongbe argued, challenging the apparent reliance on vehicle distribution amid growing demands for accountability. He suggested that providing vehicles to selected lawmakers does not address the fundamental concerns surrounding public funds, insisting that members of the Legislature must not be distracted from demanding explanations about money appropriated for development projects in their constituencies.

The Nimba lawmaker is demanding a detailed accounting of the more than US$5 million, including how much was appropriated, how much was actually released, what has been spent, and what remains available. He wants the House leadership to provide documentary evidence showing how the funds were managed and whether the money reached its intended purposes, particularly projects designed to improve roads, schools, clinics, and other essential community infrastructure.

Wongbe also raised concerns about unexplained deductions from lawmakers’ benefits and financial arrangements reportedly described as bank loans or credits. He further questioned the preparation of the 2026 Supplementary Budget without what he considers adequate consultation with the full Plenary, arguing that financial decisions affecting the Legislature require transparency and proper engagement with lawmakers.

The lawmaker also questioned Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung’s intervention in the dispute, maintaining that political mediation cannot substitute for answers to unresolved financial questions. He warned that continued failure to explain the management of public funds could undermine confidence in the Legislature and embarrass the government if inconsistencies emerge between approved allocations and actual expenditures.

“Enough of the promises. Enough of the selective explanations. Enough of the divisions,” Wongbe declared, renewing his call for the House leadership to account for the funds and restore trust among lawmakers. His challenge places the spotlight firmly on financial accountability, with the central question remaining whether the leadership will provide a clear, documented explanation of the reported US$5 million rather than allow the dispute to deepen.