-Gov’t Denies Resubmission Reports
By Jerromie S. Walters
On Tuesday, December 3, 2024, supporters of House Speaker Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa celebrated reports that the fiscal year 2025 national budget had been resubmitted to his office. However, these claims were swiftly denied by both the government and the Press and Public Affairs Department of the House of Representatives.
In an official statement released on the same day, the Press and Public Affairs clarified that, contrary to circulating rumors, the Executive branch has neither recalled nor resubmitted the budget. The budget, submitted through the Ministry of Finance, was officially received on November 18, 2024, and is currently under review in committee.
The statement accused Speaker Koffa, who was allegedly accompanied by a security detail, of forcibly removing copies of the budget from the Chief Clerk’s office. These copies were intended for distribution among the 73 legislative members, and Koffa is reportedly claiming that the budget was submitted directly to him.
This development has ignited outrage among current members of the Legislature, who have condemned Koffa’s actions as a serious breach of protocol. Investigations are currently underway, and appropriate measures will be taken to address what officials describe as a “serious violation.”
When approached for confirmation regarding the release, Rebort Haynes, the Director of Press and Public Affairs at the House of Representatives, affirmed, “Yes, it’s from my office.”
Rep. Seboe Assertion
During a brief media interaction earlier on Tuesday, Montserrado County District #16 Representative Dixon Seboe emphasized that the Ministry of Finance, by law, submitted 73 copies of the draft budget to the Chief Clerk’s office. He supported the claims of the self-styled “Majority Bloc,” stating that the office informed the Speaker, who authorized the distribution to all 73 members.
MICAT Reacts
In response to the rumors, the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs, and Tourism issued a press release confirming that the Executive Branch has not re-submitted the Draft National Budget 2025 to the National Legislature, as reported by various media outlets. The Executive maintains that the November 18 submission remains valid and that each member of the Legislature is entitled to a copy in preparation for the budget debate.
The Ministry of Finance and Development Planning reiterated this point, stating, “For Your Information!!! Each legislator (Senator/Representative) is entitled to a copy of the National Budget.” They confirmed that multiple copies of the FY 2025 Draft National Budget were printed for distribution to legislators and other stakeholders.
The Budget Submission
On November 18, 2024, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. presented the Fiscal Year 2025 Draft National Budget to the National Legislature, totaling US$851.8 million, which includes Core Revenue of US$833 million and Contingent Revenue of US$18.8 million. This draft represents a 15.3% increase over the 2024 Recast Budget total appropriation of US$738.9 million, aimed at fulfilling key priorities of the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID) while addressing debt service and other governmental obligations.
President Boakai urged lawmakers to prioritize the timely consideration and approval of the budget to ensure effective execution starting in January 2025. The submission complied with Section 17.1 of the 2019 Amendment and Restatement of the Public Financial Management Act 2009.
The budget was received by the Deputy Chief Clerk and presented to the “Majority Bloc,” a move that has not sat well with Speaker Koffa, who is now seeking a declarative judgment to challenge the actions of the Majority Bloc regarding the handling of the 2025 national budget as unconstitutional.
