MONROVIA – As the call for transparency and accountability in the public sector intensifies in Liberia, two members of the Liberian Senate have updated and declared their assets and liabilities in keeping with the National Code of Conduct Law, scolding other public officials for keeping theirs as secret.
By Obediah Johnson
The Senators include Pro Tempore Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence and Abraham Darius Dillon of Grand Bassa and Montserrado counties respectively.
It can be recalled that shortly after her election; Pro Tempore Lawrence vowed to declare her assets and liabilities and called on her colleagues to embrace the process.
“As a mark of transparency and accountability, and in order to lead by example, I hereby inform that I will declare my Assets and Liabilities as well as publish this week. I encourage my Distinguished Senators to make every effort in doing same,” Pro-Tempore Lawrence stated.
Presenting her assets and liabilities to the Secretary of the Senate Nanborlor Singbeh on Thursday, January 25, Pro Tempore Lawrence disclosed that the submission is intended to promote accountability and transparency which appear to be scarce among many public officials.
She used the occasion to call on presidential nominees to also follow suit upon their confirmation by the Liberian Senate.
“In the spirit of Transparency, we have called you here today to submit documents containing information about our assets and we have asked all members of the senate to do the same and we will expect nominee to do likewise.”
For his part, Senator Dillon recalled that he declared his assets and liabilities to the LACC and published following his ascendancy to the National Legislature in January 2021.
He bragged that though it was not mandatory at the time to publish his assets and liabilities declared, he did so for the sake of promoting accountability and transparency.
“Since 2021 I declared my assets and I am still in the same office as Senator, the law requires that we should update it after three years. And so in keeping with the Code of Conduct, I am submitting to you the Secretary of the Senate my updated assets so that you can take the appropriate actions by having it deposited at the LACC.”
Senator Dillon promised to do all the necessary facilitations to have his assets and liabilities published in the local dailies.
In a brief chat with Legislative Reporters shortly after updating his assets, Senator Dillon disclosed the amount of US$127, 992 as his gross salary per annum, excluding the deduction of taxes.
He pointed out that he holds a joint account with his daughter at a local commercial bank in the country.
According to him, the account currently holds the amount of US$2000
Senator Dillon disclosed that his decision taken to open an account with his daughter, who is a minor, is intended to ensure that she inherits “something” after reaching the age of 18.
He claimed to have also declared the amount of US$15,000 he owes the City Used Car Company in Monrovia.
Senator Dillon added that he sold his previous vehicle used shortly after his ascendancy and credited a fairly used vehicle from the company.
He cautioned the public against exaggerating the cost of the fairly used vehicle he is presently riding.
He encouraged the LACC not to relent to verify his notarized assets and the ones that would be declared by others in keeping with its statutory mandate.
Speaking further, Senator Dillon disclosed that his move to declare his assets and publish is in fulfillment of his commitment to remain transparent in his workings at the National Legislature.
He termed as a “Zoe bush useless form of declaration” public officials filing their assets and liabilities to the LACC, but failing to make public to the Liberian people.
“If you declare your assets and nobody in the public, or anybody else does not know, it is a Zoe bush useless form of declaration.”
In Liberia, Zoe Bush refers to an area or place restricted for certain group of people.
Senator Dillon said some public officials have been hiding behind the ambiguity of the Code of Conduct by questioning who is clothed with the responsibility to publish their assets thereby reneging to do so and shifting the responsibility on the LACC.
As a result of this sticky issue which was unresolved in the 54th National Legislature, the Montserrado County lawmaker vowed to ensure that the National Code of Conduct law is amended to ensure that public officials declaring their assets and liabilities are under obligation to publish.
Also speaking, the Secretary of the Liberian Senate Nanborlor Singbeh disclosed that the two lawmakers are among few others who have been fulfilling the Code of Conduct law.
According to him, assets and liabilities declaration is one of the normal routine of Senator Dillon.
“I want to say thank you Senator Dillon; you are always in compliance with the law. And I want to encourage his other colleagues to follow this good example.”