Africa-Press – Liberia. Dr. Romeo Gbartea, a senior official at Liberia’s Ministry of Finance and Development Planning and a longtime governance expert, says implementation of the Local Government Act is progressing gradually, with key fiscal decentralization components still being rolled out.
Speaking Tuesday on OK FM’s Morning Drive in a phone interview, Dr. Gbartea addressed public concerns about whether the Local Government Act is being fully implemented, particularly provisions that would allow counties to retain a portion of revenues generated locally.
According to Dr. Gbartea, while the law is fully in force, some of its most anticipated fiscal aspects—such as counties directly retaining portions of their generated revenue—are not yet fully operational.
“Some sections of the Local Government Act are practical now, but those relating to counties retaining revenue are still being worked on,” he explained, noting that implementation is taking place in phases.
He attributed the gradual rollout to ongoing institutional restructuring, especially the strengthening of county treasury operations as part of the broader decentralization framework.
Dr. Gbartea clarified that county treasury offices are an integral part of the County Service Centers, not separate entities. Under the Revenue Sharing Regulation of 2024, the county treasury is a deconcentrated public financial management framework established in each county to strengthen local government systems.
According to the regulation, county treasuries are responsible for collecting revenues from the central government and donors while providing treasury and financial management services and supporting “learn-by-doing” institutional capacity building. They also ensure compliance with financial and procurement standards, increase transparency and accountability in budget execution, and strengthen internal controls, auditing systems, and overall financial accountability.
Dr. Gbartea further explained that County Service Centers function as one-stop shops where deconcentrated services from central government ministries and agencies are delivered at the county level. These services include county treasury functions, issuance of birth and marriage certificates, operating permits, vehicle licenses, business registration, land deed processing, and the provision of psychosocial support to victims of domestic violence, including sexual and gender-based violence.
He also highlighted recent reforms in local administration, noting that positions such as development superintendents and county inspectors have been restructured to align with Liberia’s decentralization policy.
Despite delays in achieving full fiscal decentralization, Dr. Gbartea emphasized that steady progress is being made and urged the public to remain patient as systems, infrastructure, and local capacity are strengthened.
The Local Government Act was enacted to promote decentralization by transferring political, administrative, and fiscal powers from the central government to local governments, with the goal of improving service delivery and empowering local authorities. Its phased implementation, however, continues to generate national debate.
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