Africa-Press – Liberia. Senator Prince Moye, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ways, Means, Finance, and Budget, has expressed concern over a US$5.2 million shortfall in revenue collection for the first quarter of the 2025 National Budget.
Speaking during the opening of the second quarter session of the National Legislature on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, Senator Moye revealed that while revenue was projected at US$268.5 million through April, actual collections by the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) stood at US$262.9 million.
“Revenue was and is still performing,” Moye stated. “But on the expenditure side, we noticed that spending is quite slow.”
He attributed the slow pace of budget execution to challenges posed by the new automated procurement system introduced by the World Bank. The system, he said, has limited access, preventing government entities from submitting procurement plans efficiently and in a timely manner.
“Everyone would want to enter and the space is not provided enough for all the procurement entities to enter at a particular time,” Moye explained.
The delay, he added, is particularly affecting critical infrastructure projects, including road construction. Despite funds being available from both the government and development partners, procurement bottlenecks have stalled progress.
“The system put in place by the World Bank is very slow and it’s not allowing the procurement process to be fast,” Moye said. “We will be proposing a communication to invite the Public Procurement and Concession Commission (PPCC) and other relevant authorities to address this situation.”
He suggested the possibility of giving special consideration to the Ministry of Public Works to expedite procurement processes related to road construction.
On a more positive note, Senator Moye highlighted that the recruitment of additional teachers and nurses is ongoing, and salary increments for civil servants, including educators, healthcare workers, and security personnel, are being implemented under the current budget.
He noted that these efforts are contributing to a reduction in public protests.
“When people work and get paid, and their salaries increase, it becomes difficult to mobilize them for protests. That’s why demonstrations have been difficult to succeed lately,” Moye said.
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