Liberia: Lawmakers’ Impromptu Return in Limbo; Pres. Weah Ponders Decision of Hefty Bonus

Monrovia – Contrary to expectations that members of the legislature would have cut short their recess and return to work on Tuesday October 9, FrontPageAfrica has been informed that lawmakers will not return for session on the expected date.

Report by Henry Karmo, [email protected]

Sources say President Gorge Weah is yet to sign a certificate calling for their return.

On Monday, the Pro-Tempore of the Liberian senate Albert Chie in a response to inquiry about their return said the Senate would not be returning from recess. 

“We are on Recess,” he responded briefly via text message. 

All attempts to contact House Speaker Bhofal Chambers via text and calls did not materialize.

Bobby Allison, Speaker Chambers’ media officer, could not confirm or deny but promised to respond as soon as he gets words from his boss (Speaker Chambers).

On Monday October 8, 2018, some staffers assigned with respective lawmakers told reporters that their bosses informed them that they would not be returning from recess as expected because President George Weah is yet to sign the certificate calling for their return.

Sources in the Executive have confided in FrontPageAfrica that President Weah is weighing in on possibility of giving the lawmaker US$10,000 to cut short their recess.

“The President is not willing to spend that kind of Money right now; if they agree to return fine, but 10k is too much of a money to be spent for two weeks,” a source said.

In keeping with legislative practices, if the President of Liberia makes a request for the Legislature to return to session, the government underwrites the cost.

Contrary to the practice, the Legislature is making its own request to return. By Thursday, October 4, they had raised the required one-fourth signatures of their members and they had submitted a resolution to the President for his approbation for their return.

On October 5, 2018, FPA quoted multiple sources that lawmakers were returning from recess at a very high cost, after sources hinted that each of them was to received US$10,000 each plus other benefits, including gasoline and recharged cards.

According to a high placed legislative source, who asked not to be named, their return will give the Senate the opportunity to conduct hearing in the impeachment proceedings against Associate Justice Kabineh M. Ja’neh. Another source claimed their return will also allow them to act on the Liberia-China resource swap deal.

However, a Montserrado County lawmaker, who preferred anonymity, disagreed that the swap deal is going to form part of their discussion.

Article 32 (B) states: “That the President shall, on his own initiative or upon receipt of a certificate signed by at least one-fourth of the total membership of each house, and by proclamation, extend a regular session of the Legislature beyond the date for adjournment or call a special or extraordinary session of that body to discuss or act upon matters of national emergency and concern.

When the extension or call is at the request of the Legislature, the proclamation shall be issued not later than forty-eight hours after receipt of the certificate by the President.”