By Gerald C. Koinyeneh – [email protected]
In a stern warning to the Ministry, delivered through Acting Finance and Development Planning Minister Anthony Myers during an open Plenary, Speaker Koffa criticized the Ministry’s decision to withhold the House’s benefits without cause, emphasizing the adverse impact on its members. He warned that if the ministry does not change its course, the House will resort to a shutdown.
“Mr. Minister, the attitude of the Ministry of Finance towards this House is leading us to a dangerous conclusion—one we must avoid in the interest of coordination between the branches of government. I am disappointed. And if we cannot come to a resolution soon, we will shut this House of Representatives down,” Speaker Koffa warned.
The Speaker’s warning came after a presentation by Dorbor Jallah, Commissioner General of the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), who reported to the House on the current state of revenue generation. Jallah informed lawmakers that the LRA was exceeding its revenue collection targets.
Lawmakers’ complaints
Over the past months, the House of Representatives has repeatedly complained about the Ministry of Finance’s failure to disburse funds approved for gasoline, stationery, and other legislative functions.
Speaker Koffa has faced increasing pressure from his colleagues, who blame him for not pushing the Ministry of Finance to release the funds necessary to support their legislative duties.
Speaker Koffa expressed his astonishment at the Ministry’s actions, especially given the LRA Commissioner General’s announcement that the agency is surpassing its revenue targets. He criticized the Ministry for withholding members’ benefits despite the availability of funds in the government’s coffers.
“It is astonishing to me that the Commissioner General will report that he is overperforming on revenue, yet the House of Representatives, part of the first branch of government, is unable to receive a fraction of its budgeted benefits,” he said.
He continued, “We should not be in a position where we need to borrow money from money changers to provide our members with gasoline. We should not be in this position when lawmakers cannot perform their duties because the Ministry claims there is no money, despite the Commissioner General’s report of overperformance. We cannot be in a position where the Senate’s retreat is funded, yet we have to postpone our own retreat and seek assistance from NGOs. The Chairman on Ways, Means, and Finance, and the Co-Chair spend hours in your office without receiving substantive responses.”
The Speaker affirmed that the House is ready to make sacrifices, as it has in the past during revenue shortfalls. However, he deemed it unfair to withhold lawmakers’ benefits while disbursing funds to the Liberian Senate.
If the House shuts down, the Liberian Senate will also cease to function, as the Constitution requires both Houses to operate together.
LRA overperforming
In his presentation, LRA Commissioner General Jallah stated that out of the total approved budget of US$738,860,000, US$316,449,000, or 43 percent, has been collected. He highlighted that this amount surpasses the mid-year target of US$308,612,000. The remaining amount to be collected is US$434,368,000. He clarified that the revenue generated so far is from domestic sources.
Commissioner General Jallah expressed concern that tax incentives on goods and services are reducing revenue. He urged the Legislature to reconsider its decisions regarding the awarding of tax incentives. Additionally, he noted that while some revenue-generating agencies are remitting their income, others have not.
He identified the Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority (LPRA), the National Port Authority (NPA), and the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) as agencies that have not remitted their budgeted revenue. He specifically mentioned that the LPRA’s revenue-generating process is not progressive, as it only remits twice a year.