Liberia: Senate’s Adjournment Pushes 2023 Budget Passage to January

The Liberian Senate will today (December 8) adjourn the Third Quarter of the 5th Session of the 54th Legislature, which will automatically push the ratification of the 2023 Draft National Budget to January, because one house cannot remain in session for more than five days when the other is closed.

Today’s adjournment of the Senate is in consonance with the Revised Rules and Procedures of the Legislature, whereby the Legislature is to close the 2nd working Thursday in December, for its Annual and Constituency Break.

The Senate’s Committee on Budget and Expenditure will be mandated by Plenary to work along with the House’s Ways, Means, Finance and Development Planning Committee to scrutinize the 2023 Draft Budget in the amount of US$777.94 million and report in January upon its return.

The House of Representatives is also expected to adjourn by next week, but the Joint Budget Committee will be tasked to review the budget and report when the Legislature shall resume work on the 2nd working Monday in January (January 9, 2023), for the 6th and final session of the 54th Legislature.

It may be recalled that in October, Senate Pro-tempore Albert Chie ruled out swift passage of the draft 2023 budget, saying issues of macroeconomic stability and controlled public sector spending would delay passage.

Pro Tempore Chie said: “... due to the huge amount of work that has to be done on the draft 2023 national budget when proposed and the procedures involved after its presentation, the Senate doesn’t envisage its passage before adjourning for the third and final constituency break on December 8, 2022.”

There may be a brief program  to commemorate the adjournment of the 5th Session, with the President of the Senate, Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor or the President Pro-tempore making a special statement.

Fifteen seats in the Senate will be up for grabs, and 13 out of 15 Senators, including Sen. Albert Chie of Grand Kru County, Saah Joseph of Montserrado, J. Milton Teahjay of Sinoe, Jonathan Kaipay of Grand Bassa and Prince  Y. Johnson of Nimba County will be seeking reelection in October 2023.

Others are Senators Stephen Zargo of Lofa, Morris Saytumah of Bomi, Varney Sherman of Grand Cape Mount, Jim Tornonlah of Margibi, Francis Paye of Rivercess, Conmany Wesseh of River Gee and Daniel Naatehn of Gbarpolu. 

Meanwhile,  the House of Representatives mandated its Ways, Means, Finance and Development Planning Committee on Tuesday to review the 2023 Draft National Budget. 

The scrutiny follows submission of the Draft National Budget for Fiscal Year 2023 to the Legislature on Monday, December 5, 2022.

In a communication to plenary on Tuesday, during its 12th day sitting, President George Weah said the proposed National Budget for the period beginning January 1, 2023 and ending December 31, 2023 is in compliance with Section 17.1 of the Public Financial Management Act.

“Since I submitted the FY2022 Budget and its subsequent restatement, domestic economic activities have been reasonably robust, with revenue performing better than expected at mid-year,” President Weah said.