The Leadership of the House of Representatives has taken seize of eleven (11) pieces of legislation recently vetoed by the President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., and has initiated consultations with the Executive Branch to determine a constructive way forward. In a formal communication to House Speaker, Hon. Richard Nagbe Koon, the President outlined reasons for withholding approval of the said bills, which had been earlier passed by the Legislature and forwarded to his office for assent. Following a comprehensive review, the eleven (11) vetoed bills were categorized as follows:
• Nine (9) bills proposing the establishment of Townships within Nimba County; and
• Two (2) bills proposing the creation of Districts one each in Nimba and Lofa Counties.
Review of Bills Proposing the Establishment of Townships in Nimba County According to the President’s communication, the nine (9) township bills do not meet the statutory requirements outlined in Section 2.16(e) of the Local Government Act of 2018, which stipulates minimum criteria for creating townships and boroughs. These include:
• A minimum population of 5,000 residents;
• Functional waste collection and disposal systems;
• Access to primary and junior high school education;
• Availability of health clinics;
• Sports and recreational facilities;
• Designated cemetery grounds;
• Adequate transportation infrastructure;
• Reliable transportation and communication services; and
• Presence of business services such as motels, restaurants, and retail shops.
The President noted that Liberia’s ongoing infrastructural and economic limitations continue to constrain access to essential services and employment opportunities. He emphasized that any proposed township must clearly demonstrate compliance with the above statutory benchmarks. Additionally, the bills lack defined geographical boundaries, which are essential for the legal establishment of new political subdivisions. Review of Bills Proposing the Creation of Districts in Nimba and Lofa Counties The President’s communication further noted that the two (2) bills seeking to create new districts fail to meet the legal standards prescribed in Section 2.15 of the Local Government Act of 2018, which governs the establishment of Sub-County Local Governments, including Administrative Districts. Key provisions cited include:
• Section 2.15(a): All existing statutory districts shall remain in effect for seven (7) years following the enactment of the Act, during which time the Ministry responsible for local governance must retire all statutory district employees. Thereafter, statutory districts shall be dissolved.
• Section 2.15(b): Administrative districts shall be managed by a District Advisory Council, District Commissioner, Administrative Officer, Finance Officer, and Development Officer. The Act, published on November 23, 2018, mandates the dissolution of all statutory districts by November 23, 2025.
However, the two proposed bills fail to specify whether the new districts would be statutory or administrative. If statutory, their legal lifespan would expire within approximately three months making their creation impractical. The Leadership of the House of Representatives has assured that it will engage constructively with the Executive Branch to review the President’s concerns and determine an appropriate course of action consistent with the Constitution and the Local Government Act of 2018.
