Africa-Press – Liberia. The House of Representatives on Tuesday adjourned its extraordinary session of the 5th session with the enactment of 11 laws.
The special (extraordinary) sitting was part of the second (2nd) quarter of the 54th Legislature.
Meanwhile, the members of the House are expected to resume work for the third quarter, which is the second working Friday, on October 14, 2022.
Giving a statistical report on the special session which began a month ago (August 15), and ended on the 13th of September, Rep. Acarous Gray, chairman on Executive, said a total of 16 sessions were held, comprising 11 regular sessions, 5 executive or secret sessions.
Speaker Bhofal Chambers presided over three sessions and Deputy Speaker, Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa, presided over 11; while Rep. Gray, the Chair on the Executive, presided over two sessions.
Delivering the adjournment statement, Rep. Gray said 15 bills were introduced in the House of Representatives but 11 were passed, of which six emanated from the Executive.
According to him, these include an Act to amend certain sections of the New Elections Law of 1986 as amended through 2014; An Act to create the PYJ Polytechnic University College and grant it a charter, and an Act to establish the Belle Balunma Magisterial Court in Belle District, Gbarpolu County, among others, as some of the bills passed by the House of Representatives.
According to him, Executive bills passed in the House include an Act to ratify the Investment Incentive Agreement between Liberia and Modern Mills Liberia Incorporated; the Financing Agreement (Liberia Urban Resilience Project) between Liberia and the International Development Association; and the amended PFM Law of 2021 to enable fiscal decentralization as contemplated by the Local Government Act of 2018.
The Montserrado County District #8 Representative disclosed that the Executive bills in committee rooms include: a loan agreement amongst the Republic of Liberia, African Development Bank and the African Development Fund (As Administrators of Transition Support Facility); Mano River Union Road Development and Transport Facilitation Program-Phase 3), and a total of Senate bills in the Committee room is one.
He intoned that of the six bills, which are currently in Committee Room, three originated from the House of Representatives.
Providing more updates, Rep. Gray said the number of Senate bills rejected was one — the Act Adopting an Integrated Pension and Benefits Scheme for certain categories of officials of Government of the Republic of Liberia and to repeal or Amend certain portions of Title 19, Legislative Act, Title 12, Executive Law and title 17, Judiciary Law (1972) and the 2003 Act which amends these Laws.
It may be recalled, prior to the extraordinary sitting, but during the 2nd quarter, the Presiding officer, Deputy Speaker J. Fonati Koffa named a 15-member committee and leadership, to steer the affairs of the House of Representatives during the break.
Those selected include Rep. Lawrence Morris (Montserrado); Rep. Vicent T. H. Willie, ll (Grand Bassa); Rep. Dr. Isaac Roland (Maryland); Rep. Mambu Sonii (Grand Cape Mount); Rep. J. Marvin Cole (Bong County); Rep. Clarence Massaquoi (Lofa); Rep. Joseph Sonwarbi (Nimba); Rep. E. Madison Gwion (Grand Gedeh); Rep. Finda G. Lassanah (Bomi); Rep. Ellen Attoh-Wreh (Margibi); Rep. Rosanna Shaack (Rivercess); Rep. Nathaniel Bahway (Grand Kru); Alexander Poure (River Gee); Rep. Cllr. Kanie Wesso (Gbarpolu); and Rep. Samson Q. Wiah (Sinoe).
Integrity Bills Passed
Meanwhile, the members of the 54th Legislature will return Friday, October 14 to face the must-pass 2023 National Budget, which may be the last annual budget of the 54th Legislature and that of President George M. Weah.
In October or early November, the President, through the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), is expected to submit the 2023 draft national budget to the Legislature.
The Legislature is expected to pass it in time, probably in December, owing to ‘significant’ programs earmarked to be funded during the elective year (2023).
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