The Liberian Senate’s Statutory Committee on Ways, Means, Finance, and Budget has projected an initial allocation of US$1.8 million for the immediate restoration of the Joint Chamber of the Legislature, which was recently damaged by fire.
The fire incident occurred earlier this week, although the cause remains unknown.
The fire comes amid ongoing political turmoil in the House of Representatives, where Speaker Fonati Koffa was ousted by a majority vote. The embattled Speaker has since sought redress through a Bill of Information filed with the Supreme Court, following an earlier intervention that failed to resolve the crisis.
Speaking on behalf of the committee, Bong County Senator and Committee Chair Prince K. Moye emphasized the urgency of addressing the damage to the legislative seat. “We can’t just sit and wait. We must take immediate action,” he stated, noting that while the full restoration cost is yet to be determined, the proposed US$1.8 million would enable construction to begin as soon as the budget is passed.
Moye described the fire as an unforeseen setback that required swift legislative action. “This is a critical issue for the country, and we need to show leadership by starting this process ourselves rather than waiting for external support,” he added.
The proposed funding will require concurrence from the House of Representatives before implementation.
Additionally, the Committee has suggested restoring the District Development Fund to enhance development across Liberia’s 73 districts. Moye highlighted the program’s potential to ensure visible government impact at the grassroots level, proposing that the plenary of the Senate decide on the governance and management of the fund within the budget framework.
