MONROVIA –Monsterrado County Senator, Abraham Darius Dillon, has opposed the proposal to create additional legislative seats in the House of Representative.
By Selma Lomax, [email protected]
The proposal, from the House of Representatives which is under consideration, seeks to increase the current 73 seats in the House of Representatives to as many as 89, creating between 14 and 16 new electoral districts based on findings from the 2022 National Population and Housing Census.
Supporters argue that population growth justifies broader representation, while critics warn that the move may place additional strain on already limited national resources.
Senator Dillon, who represents Montserrado County, challenged the proposal, insisting that the authority to declare and assign legislative seats lies with the National Elections Commission (NEC) rather than the Legislature.
He maintained that under constitutional provisions, lawmakers are responsible only for determining the population threshold, while the NEC is mandated to apportion seats accordingly.
His argument centers on the need to respect institutional roles and avoid overreach by the Legislature.
In further remarks, Senator Dillon emphasized that adherence to constitutional order must guide any reform process, warning that bypassing established frameworks could undermine public confidence in democratic institutions.
He noted that legislative expansion should not be driven by political convenience but by clear legal standards and national consensus. He stressed that failure to follow due process could set a troubling precedent for future governance decisions.
The Montserrado County Senator also raised concerns about the financial implications of increasing the number of lawmakers, questioning whether the government is prepared to sustain additional costs associated with salaries, benefits, and administrative support.
He pointed out that Liberia continues to face economic challenges, and expanding the legislature without a clear financial plan could deepen fiscal pressures. He urged his colleagues to consider cost saving measures before pursuing any increase in representation.
Senator Dillon stated that “the conversation about adding more seats cannot be separated from the economic reality facing our country, because every additional lawmaker comes with a cost that must be borne by the Liberian people, and it is only fair that we ask whether those resources could be better used to address pressing needs such as health education and infrastructure rather than expanding government structure.”
He added that “respect for the Constitution must remain the foundation of every legislative action, and if we begin to stretch or reinterpret clear provisions for convenience, we risk weakening the very system that holds our democracy together and ensures that power is exercised within defined limits.”
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