Liberia: Senate Demands Submission of Delayed 2024 National Budget
Senator Abraham Darius Dillon of Montserrado County.
The Plenary of the Liberian Senate has mandated its Committee on Executive to communicate with the Executive Branch of Government to submit the draft national budget for 2024.
The decision of Plenary was triggered by a concern raised by Montserrado County Senator, Abraham Darius Dillon that the Senate has two weeks to climax the sixth Session, but the 2024 draft national budget has not been submitted.
Senator Dillon argued that according to the Amended Public Financial Management Law, the 2024 draft national budget was to be submitted by October 31, 2023, but the Executive is yet to submit same, even though the Senate has two weeks to finally close the sixth Session.
Other Senators however, suggested the inclusion of the incoming government in the formulation of the 2024 National Budget, to avoid an early budget recast by the new leadership.
Following a brief debate, the reelected Maryland County Senator, J. Gbleh-bo Brown proffered a motion to mandate the Committee on Executive, chaired by Montserrado County Senator Saah Joseph, to inform the appropriate authority of Government to submit the 2024 draft national budget before adjournment of the sixth Session.