Africa-Press – Liberia. Naymote, Partners for Democratic Development, has called on the leadership of the Legislature to conduct a full-scale audit following the release of its midterm report on the first branch of government. The organization emphasized the need for transparency and accountability within the Legislature.
After their election, Speaker of the House, Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa, and Senate Pro Tempore Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence promised to ensure an audit of both chambers to promote transparency. The General Auditing Commission (GAC) has already conducted a system audit of the Senate. Despite the GAC’s recommendation for further investigation and potential prosecution of individuals involved in acts of corruption, Senate Pro Tempore Karnga-Lawrence did not act on the recommendation.
Naymote’s Executive Director, Eddie Jarwolo, expressed disappointment in the Senate’s refusal to follow the GAC’s recommendations. “It shows that the Legislature is not accountable or transparent to itself or the Liberian people. We call on the Senate Pro Tempore to demonstrate leadership and ensure that the Senate works for the Liberian people, as they are using taxpayers’ money,” said Jarwolo. He stressed the need for a full audit of both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
At the House of Representatives, the GAC is still expected to submit its findings. Jarwolo called on Speaker Koffa to honor his commitment to accountability and transparency, noting that there is a growing public distrust of both chambers due to a lack of transparency. He added, “Opening a website and regularly updating the public on their activities would be helpful. The government cannot be using taxpayers’ money to support the Legislature without being accountable to the public.”
Responding to Jarwolo, Speaker Koffa confirmed that the system audit of the House is ongoing. He attributed the delay to the size of the House, explaining that it is “two and a half times bigger than the Senate” and therefore the process will take longer. Koffa also stated that a website will be established as part of the House’s modernization process.
Legislative Performance Report
Naymote’s midterm legislative performance report, covering the period from January to July 2024, highlights the Legislature’s activities in lawmaking, oversight, and representation. During this period, the House and Senate held 122 sittings, including regular, executive, special, and extraordinary sessions. The House of Representatives passed four bills, while the Senate passed two. Six of the total bills passed were introduced by the President, comprising 50% of the total legislation enacted.
The report also noted that the House held 34 public hearings, with July recording the highest number. Additionally, the Senate confirmed 893 executive officials during this period. The Legislature, comprising 73 members of the House and 30 members of the Senate, appropriated a budget of US$53,376,575.
Naymote called for urgent reforms to strengthen the Legislature’s institutional capacity, including enhancing oversight committees and promoting transparency. The organization recommended limiting “executive/secret” sessions to matters of national security, establishing a functional website with public voting records, and supporting constitutional reforms to increase the representation of women in both chambers.
Naymote also stressed the importance of the Legislature ensuring that ministries, agencies, and commissions submit regular reports to the public, while calling for better tools to enhance the data collection and reporting skills of clerks and stenographers within the Legislature.
In conclusion, the report calls on the Legislature to fully cooperate with the GAC to ensure comprehensive audits are conducted, as well as to foster greater accountability and transparency in the management of public funds.
For More News And Analysis About Liberia Follow Africa-Press
