The Plenary of the House of Representatives is concern of the recent appointments in Govβt by the Chief Executive to already occupied tenure positions.
This came to the attention of plenary as a result of a communication from Bong County Electoral District 5 Representative Eugene Kollie.
Rep. Kollie told plenary Thursday, 22 February during its 13th Day sitting of the 1st Quarter that he has observed in recent times the flagrant violation of the statutes (laws) by the President of the Republic of Liberia, His Excellency, Joseph Nyumah Boakai, by appointing individuals to tenured positions which are already occupied.
He is quoted as saying in his communication, βHon. Speaker and Distinguished Colleagues, On February 20, 2024, His Excellency, Joseph Nyumah Boakai, appointed Mr.Hanson S. Kiazolu as Road Fund Manager to the National Road Fund Authority in obvious disregard to the law establishing such an office. The law clearly states in section 4.3.3, the following: “The appointment of the National Road Fund Manager shall be for a period of five (5) years during which performance shall be monitored in line with their performance contract”.
The Bong County lawmaker stated that the current Road Fund Manager has only been in office for a period of four (4) months, far less than her tenure.
Stating that the statute establishing the Road Fund Office, does not give the President any color of right to appoint Road Fund Manager.
The Communication further state that the statute further states in section 4.1.1, says “The Road Fund shall be headed by a National Road Fund Manager who shall be selected through open advertisement by the Minister of Finance and Development Planning and approved by the Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee before appointment by the Minister of Finance and Development Planning”.
From the reading of this statute, it’s clear in the letters of the law, that appointment of Road Fund Manager lies in the purview of both the Minister of Finance and the Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee respectively.
Hon. Kollie sought his colleaguesβ indulgence for the august body to invite the Legal Advisor to the President, as well as the Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee of the National Road Fund Authority, to explain the actions of the President.
Meanwhile the House is also expected to communicate with the Liberian Senate to put hold on the confirmation those appointed to already occupied tenure positions until an investigation is conducted.
