Capitol Hill, Monrovia – The plenary of the House has granted the request of Rep Nyahn Flomo seeking the credentials of all local government officials appointed by the President in order to find out if the government was acting in line with the local government act.
By Selma Lomax. [email protected]
Representative Nyahn G. Flomo of Nimba District Two had written the plenary of the House of Representatives seeking its indulgence to request the credentials of all local government officials appointed by the President in order to find out if the government was acting in line with the local government act.
The Local Government Act of 2018 establishes the framework for decentralizing Liberia’s governance system through the devolution of power and accelerating development at the grassroots level.
The Act, among other things, seeks to give effect to the country’s national policy on decentralization and local governance, ensures democratic participation in, and control of, decision-making by the citizenry, creates and establishes democratic and political-administrative structures in local governance, ensures sources of revenues in support of local government administration and operations.
Rep. Flomo said for the Act to be successfully implemented, it requires committed and demonstrated political will from the executive and other stakeholders. “I believe that the successful realization of the government’s ARREST agenda will largely depend on the devolution of authority, and the decentralization of our governance system as enshrined in the Local Government Act of 2018, and the observance of the Rule of Law,” he said.
Representative Flomo, in his communication, craved the indulgence of plenary to request the Minister of Internal Affairs, and the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs to provide a detailed listing of current appointments at the local government level, and how those appointments are factoring in the relevant provisions of the Local Government Act of 2018.
“Honorable Speaker and colleagues, a low-hanging fruit to demonstrate the government’s political will to implement this act could be how local government officials are appointed. Therefore, this communication is particularly interested in the titles and designations of newly appointed county officials, their names and qualifications, and their tax and police clearances, in consonance with relevant provisions of the Act.”
The Nimba District #2 Lawmaker made specific reference to Chapter 2 Section 2.13 captioned “County Administration” that establishes the four-top county positions as Superintendent, County Administrative Officer, County Finance Officer, and County Development Officer; and Chapter 2 Section 2.16k captioned “Qualifications for City Mayor, Township Commissioner, and Borough Administrator.”
He said the many legislations passed by the National Legislature and those to be legislated can only be meaningful if and when citizens can begin to see and feel the impact through timely and robust implementations.
Following a brief deliberation, a motion was adopted to request the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs and the Ministry of Internal Affairs to submit credentials of all local government officials.
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