-Says Judiciary must not be required to defend its budget
By G. Bennie Bravo Johnson
The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia, Her Honor, Sie-A-Nyene Gyapay Yuoh, has warned to invoke the constitution and the budget law on budget hearing if the judiciary is not involved in the formation of the national budget going forward.
During the African Regional Group Meeting and International Conference of the International Association of Judges, Justice Yuoh emphasized that the judiciary is not a Ministry under the Executive and should not be required to defend its budget before the national legislature.
“Going forward, the judiciary must be a part of the national budget formation, and if we are not a part of the budget process, we will invoke the provision of the constitution and the budget law on the budget,” she said while addressing attendees of the Conference Wednesday, May 8, 2024, at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Congo Town.
In her opinion, Justice Yuoh believes that the judiciary must be an integral part of the national budget formation process. She stated that if the judiciary is excluded from the budget-making process, the Supreme Court will not hesitate to invoke the constitution and the budget law to ensure its participation.
“I told them we were not going to defend our budget. if the President and Speaker cannot go and defend their budget, we are not going to defend our budget. This is a serious matter, we are a full branch of government, not a segment of the Executive.”
In her address, the Liberian Chief Justice stressed the importance of recognizing the judiciary as a full branch of government and not merely an arm of the executive.
She highlighted the judiciary’s significant contribution to the national budget and argued that it deserves its fair share without having to justify it to the national legislature.
Furthermore, Justice Yuoh pointed out that according to the judiciary law, the salary of the vice president and chief justice should be equal. She also advocated for associate justices and judges to receive the same salary.
Justice Yuoh emphasized that the judiciary contributes to the national budget, while the legislature does not, thus pointing out the judiciary’s entitlement to its portion of the budget without the need for justification.
“We are contributing to the budget, while the legislature doesn’t contribute but will call a full brand of government to justify the budget.”
Justice Yuoh made it clear that the judiciary will not stand idly by if its role in budget-making is disregarded, as she emphasized the importance of upholding the constitution and the rule of law in the budgetary process.
Budget hearing affords a platform
for government entities to justify their budgets.
The Fiscal Year 2024 Draft National Budget Hearings primarily focused on the revenue component of the budget.
In the FY2024 national budget, the Judiciary has a budgetary allocation of $USD17,734,964. In the 2023 Est outturn budget, the Juficiary was allotted $USD19,177,180. The Plenary of the Liberian Senate unanimously concurred with the House of Representatives for the passage of the 2024 National Budget, tallying US$738,859,827, on Tuesday, April 30, 2024.
The passage by the Senate during the final sitting of the Special session included adjustments and the discovery of an additional revenue envelope of US$46,451,000.
