Africa-Press – Liberia. The Plenary of the Liberian Senate has mandated its committee on Ways, Means, Finance and Budget to independently scrutinize the draft 2025 National budget.
The budget, in the total amount of US$851.76 million, was submitted on November 18, through a written communication by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, to Senate Pro Tempore Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence. The budget accounts for its domestic resource envelope of US$791.76 million constituting 93 percent of the total envelope.
The draft budget is categorized into its Revenue envelope, Expenditure categories and major Sources, Microeconomic context and Outlook as well as spending priorities as well as external resources, amongst others.
Under Spending priorities, US$52.9 Million is being allotted for roads and infrastructure.
This will include the rehabilitation of rural roads and the construction of bailey bridges across the country. Also included in the Priority spending is the counterpart funding for ongoing works on key road corridors, such as Saclepea-Zwedru, and the Sannniquelle-Luoguatuo highway.
Additionally, US$15 million has been set aside for the Pliable Roads Program and infrastructure. Other interventions will include the rehabilitation of the road from the Freeport of Monrovia to St. Paul Bridge, as well as the expansion of the Liberia Broadcasting System to have LNTV available in all fifteen County capital cities.
President Boakai asserted that there are upward shifts in the expenditure for sectors that will be impactful, adding that the proportion of the Public Sector Investment Program (PSIP) has an increment by thirty one percent from FY2024 US$67.4 million to FY2025 amounting to US$98 million; US$52.9 million for Roads and Infrastructure, including US$37.6 million for the rehabilitation of major roads and the expansion of the Liberia Broadcasting System to have LNTV available in all fifteen county capital cities.
According to the President, more than US$16 million have been allotted to fund the first set of measures in a multi-year effort aimed at addressing some remuneration challenges and concerns in the public sector.
This measure, according the President, will cover volunteer workers in the Health, agriculture, security, and education Sectors, ranging from US$25 to US$50 dollars; nurses, midwives and physician assistants will receive US$50 salary top-ups per month, while other Health workers will receive US$25 to US$40, based on their levels. Accordingly, other government employees in the agriculture and Security sectors including AFL soldiers, EPS, and Police officers, as well as agriculture extension workers, will benefit salary top-ups ranging from US$30 to US$40 per month.
Meanwhile, President Boakai also highlighted that the proposed increases do not put the country at a level envisioned through the ARREST agenda, but should be construed as a first year-year action and multi-year effort to address issues and concerns in public sector remuneration.
At the same time, as part of the reforms to the revenue and tax administration system, the President said he is considering a number of new regulations and legislations that would provide clarity in the way different levels of income are taxed.
It May be recalled that in recent years, the Committees of Ways, Means, Finance and Budget of both the House of Representatives, and the Senate have jointly worked on draft budgets, before submitting final works to their respective chambers for final approval.
There are reports that the ‘Majority bloc’ of the House of Representatives is also conducting separate scrutiny of the budget, which was submitted to the Deputy Clerk of the House.
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