-Speaker Koffa Urges Gov’t Entities to Boycott “Majority Bloc” Budget Hearings, but
By Jerromie S. Walters
On December 8, 2024, the leadership of the House of Representatives expressed disapproval of absent members who have formed unauthorized committees to conduct budget hearings. In the leadership’s opinion, this decision contradicts the Supreme Court ruling from December 6, 2024, which addressed the constitutional legitimacy of the actions taken by the “Majority Bloc.”
President Joseph Nyuma Boakai presented the Fiscal Year 2025 Draft National Budget to the National Legislature on November 18, 2024, totaling US$851.8 million. This 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. The budget was received by the Deputy Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives, and he presented it to the “Majority Bloc.”
On December 7, 2024, a communication from the self-proclaimed “Majority Bloc” of the House was disseminated through the Press Bureau, announcing a schedule for budget hearings related to the draft 2025 National Budget. The release indicated that the revenue component of the budget hearings was set to begin on December 9, 2024.
However, House leadership has warned that all spending entities should not comply with any invitations or hearings that have not been officially scheduled by Hon. Dixon Seboe, the Chairman of Ways and Means and Finance. They warned that any proceedings conducted outside this established framework would be considered ultra vires—beyond legal authority—and any decisions made in these unauthorized sessions would lack legal standing.
Moreover, the House leadership urged absent members to seek clarification on the Supreme Court’s ruling from qualified legal authorities rather than engage in actions that may undermine the rule of law. The leadership also called for all members to participate in a session scheduled for Tuesday, December 14, 2024, aimed at resolving the ongoing impasse and refocusing efforts on the needs of the Liberian people. “We must prioritize unity, legality, and our shared responsibility to the citizens of Liberia,” the statement concluded, emphasizing the need for cooperation among all members to ensure the effective functioning of the House.
Upcoming Budget Hearings
According to a press release from the House of Representatives’ Press and Public Affairs Bureau, signed by Robert Haynes, the budget hearings will commence on December 9, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. in the first-floor conference room. Key agencies, including the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), and the Liberia Maritime Authority, are scheduled to present before the Ways, Means, and Finance Committee, chaired by Hon. P. Mike Jury.
The second day, December 10, 2024, will see presentations from four agencies, including the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC) and the National Fishery. On December 11, five additional ministries and agencies will present, including the Ministry of Public Works and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The hearings will continue through December 12 and 13, culminating in a comprehensive review of the revenue component of the draft national budget.
The House’s Press and Public Affairs release highlighted that all presentations will be led by heads of institutions, with sector heads present to support their teams. Agencies not included in the budget are encouraged to submit budgetary requests, while those unable to attend will provide presentations to subcommittees as needed.
“Majority Bloc” Debunks
But less than an hour following the House’s leadership release, the self-styled “Majority Bloc” through the Press and Public Affairs of the House of Representatives issued another statement, informing the public that all preparations are in place for the upcoming Budget hearings, scheduled for Monday, December 9, 2024, at 9:00 AM.
The statement reads: “Citizens are urged not to be misled by a recent leaflet circulating on social media, which was distributed by the former Speaker Grand Kru County Electoral District #2 Representative J. Fonati Koffa. The Budget hearings, which will take place in the presence of relevant stakeholders, have been thoroughly planned by the Chairman of the Ways, Means, and Finance Committee, Hon. P. Mike Jury, alongside the Legislative Budget Office (LBO). All spending entities have been officially notified and are expected to attend the hearings as part of the formal process.”
The bloc warns Koffa to cease immediately from issuing such leaflets. “It is important to note that he no longer holds the authority to make public communications following a ruling by the Supreme Court of Liberia. The public is reminded that any official communication from the Honorable House of Representatives must come directly from the offices of the Chief Clerk or the Press and Public Affairs Office. These are the only authorized channels through which the House communicates with the public,” the statement continues.
Supreme Court Ruling
Over the weekend, the Supreme Court issued a ruling addressing the impasse within the House of Representatives, focusing on whether the actions taken by its members adhered to the provisions outlined in the 1986 Constitution of Liberia. The court’s interpretation of Article 33 clarified that the Speaker remains the presiding officer regardless of the presence of a simple majority or a minority.
The court noted a legislative gap in enforcing attendance for absent members and concluded that any actions taken outside the constitutional framework are considered ultra vires or beyond legal authority. Article 33 states that a simple majority constitutes a quorum, while Article 49 mandates the election of a Speaker to preside over the House. As a result, the Supreme Court has directed members to conduct their affairs by the established constitutional framework.
Tensions within the House erupted on October 17, 2024, when 47 members of the 55th Legislature attempted to remove Speaker J. Fonati Koffa, citing allegations of misconduct and administrative incompetence.
