Monrovia, Liberia – Bill McGill Jones, the Deputy Finance and Development Planning Minister for Administration, declared on Monday that the National Development Plans (NDPs) and the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget, as well as any subsequent budgets under the present administration, will be influenced by the information obtained from continuing consultations.
Minister Jones emphasized the significance of representing all 73 electoral districts, more than 100 administrative districts, and 15 counties in the budget formulation process during his speech at the beginning of Day Two of legislative engagements aimed at finalizing the County Development Agendas, the National Development Plan, and the Public Sector Investment Plan.
“This budget should reflect the views of the people, not only the lawmakers or staff members of the MFDP.”
He restated that President Joseph Nyumah Boakai’s developmental endeavors will be guided by the NDPs, which are crucial instruments.
The gathering of legislators from Grand Bassa, River Cess, Sinoe, Montserrado, and Margibi demonstrated the need for cooperation between the Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary to guarantee common ownership of development plans.
The Local Government Act of 2018, which gives individuals the ability to engage in government through a decentralized structure, was enacted with gratitude, according to Hon. Eddie Mulbah, Deputy Minister for Research and Development Planning at the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Senator Gbeazohngar Milton Finley, the Grand Bassa Legislative Caucus Chair, commended the decentralization plan and emphasized its significance for remote counties facing developmental obstacles.
“Our goal in being here today is to begin the process of decentralizing our local government and enhancing the quality of life for our citizens.”
The River Cess Legislative Caucus’ Senator Willington Geevon-Smith urged an increase in the present allotment of $200,000 per county and emphasized the necessity of prompt government action on county development projects.
“Given that the national budget is between $650 million and $738 million, we could provide $3 million to each county without having an adverse effect on the overall sum.”
The Sinoe Legislative Caucus’ Representative Simpson Wiah advised decision-makers to embrace a “smart agenda” centered on significant development initiatives.
Representative Ivar K. Jones, who chairs the Margibi County Legislative Caucus, expressed gratitude to the Liberian government for inviting legislators to a consultation on the creation of the National Development plans.
He referred to the current discussions as an example of participatory democracy, which he claimed is essential to include public concerns into the national budget for execution. Representative Jones reaffirmed that the Legislature will back the people’s decision.
Speaking on behalf of his county Legislative Caucus, Representative Bernard Blue Benson of Montserrado County District 17 described the government’s assembly of lawmakers as a step in the right direction for direct representation of the people to review the results of the field and offer their own contributions to ensure an inclusive development.
To ensure that the needs and ambitions of every Liberian are met over the next five years, the engagement session is a vital first step in developing a more inclusive budgeting process.
It is anticipated that the Legislative Consultations would conclude in Monrovia on Tuesday, October 2, 2024.
