MONROVIA, LIBERIA – The Supreme Court of Liberia, presided over by Justice in Chambers Ceaineh Clinton-Johnson, held a hearing on Thursday to address a petition filed by seven suspended members of the 55th House of Representatives. The lawmakers are seeking a writ of mandamus to compel the Minister of Finance and the Comptroller of the Legislature to release their unpaid salaries and benefits, which they claim have been unlawfully withheld.
The petitioners—Representatives Abu Kamara, Marvin Cole, Frank Saah Foko, Edward Papie Flomo, Eugene Kollie, Alex Noah, and Zinnah Norman—argue that they are constitutionally entitled to their salaries as duly elected members of the 55th Legislature. They allege that the withholding of their compensation is a result of directives from the self-styled “Majority Bloc,” which they claim has influenced the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning and the Comptroller to deny them their rightful payments.
Elected on October 10, 2023, and sworn into office on January 15, 2024, the suspended lawmakers, who belong to the Minority bloc, assert that their salaries and benefits are legally appropriated in the National Budget. They argue that the Supreme Court has jurisdiction over the matter under Article 66 of Liberia’s 1986 Constitution, which grants the Court the authority to issue remedial writs, including mandamus, when public officials fail to perform their statutory duties.
“The Minister of Finance and the Comptroller have a legal obligation to disburse salaries as appropriated by law,” the petitioners stated. “The Minister is responsible for executing payments approved in the national budget, while the Comptroller ensures that all lawmakers, regardless of political disputes, receive their rightful salaries and benefits.”
The lawmakers contend that the continued withholding of their salaries violates their constitutional rights. They cite Article 25 of the Constitution, which prohibits the impairment of contractual obligations, arguing that their salaries, as budgeted items, constitute a contractual obligation of the government. Additionally, they reference Article 20(a), which guarantees due process and prohibits the deprivation of entitlements without a fair hearing. They claim that the withholding of their salaries without lawful justification breaches these constitutional protections.
The petitioners are seeking a Peremptory Writ of Mandamus to compel the Minister of Finance and the Comptroller to release their salaries and benefits. They are also requesting that the court grant them all legal, just, and equitable remedies in the proceedings.
In response, the Ministry of Finance has denied the allegations, stating that it does not disburse salaries to individual lawmakers. Instead, the Ministry claims it allocates funds to institutions as requested, distancing itself from any direct involvement in the alleged withholding of the lawmakers’ salaries.
The case has drawn significant attention, highlighting the ongoing political tensions within Liberia’s legislature. The suspended lawmakers’ petition underscores the broader struggle between the Minority and Majority blocs, with the former accusing the latter of using financial leverage to exert political control.
As the Supreme Court deliberates on the matter, the outcome of this legal battle could have far-reaching implications for the integrity of Liberia’s legislative processes and the rights of elected officials. The petitioners remain hopeful that the court will uphold their constitutional entitlements and ensure that justice prevails in this high-stakes dispute.
