Capitol Hill, Monrovia – The contentious 2026 national budget is now being heard by the House of Representatives by legislation. The House of Representatives Joint Committee on Ways, Means & Finance and Public Accounts & Expenditure formally started hearings on the Revenue Component of the Draft National Budget for Fiscal Year 2026 on Wednesday, November 19, 2025. The proposal is the largest in Liberian history, with a budget envelope of US$1.211 billion.
Revenue-generating organizations may offer plans for boosting domestic resources, finding new sources of income, and averting future budget deficits during the Revenue Hearings. The chairman of the Committee on Ways, Means & Finance, Hon. P. Mike Jurry, gave the opening comments. P. Mike Jurry emphasized that the Legislature must maintain budgetary restraint and openness, calling the start of the hearings “a civic moment and constitutional duty.”
“This figure shows ambition, but it also needs to show reality. It is our responsibility to examine the projections of revenue to make sure they are reasonable and realistic. These hearings are a constitutional mechanism for fiscal oversight; they are not ceremonial,” Hon. Jurry said.
The Chairman noted that the increased fiscal growth indicates “Liberia’s potential for real transformation and a transition toward middle-income status,” highlighting the historic crossing of the US$1 billion barrier. The Committee listed the following top concerns that will direct the FY2026 review: ArcelorMittal Signature Bonus of US$200 Million, ensuring prompt payment, transparent allocation, and quantifiable development impact.
Analyzing the legality, fairness, and economic realism of the Liberia Revenue Authority’s (LRA) estimates, as well as debt servicing and borrowing evaluating sustainability, fines, and payment plans to avoid long-term financial instability.
The Committee declared its intention to insist on performance-linked disbursements, require county-level income breakdowns, and promote digital transparency tools for public tracking of budget movements. Additionally, the Legislative Budget Office (LBO) was asked to support legislative oversight with robust, independent analysis.
The US$1.2 billion budget, according to Hon. Jurry, should mark the beginning of significant infrastructure development, including the long-envisioned network of paved roads connecting Cape Mount and Cape Palmas.
Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Finance & Development Planning (MFDP), Deputy Minister for Fiscal Affairs Anthony Myers commended the Legislature for its unambiguous policy direction. Noting that a significant portion of the projected amount is still in the contingency category while legal and procedural criteria are met, he underlined the Executive’s attention in making sure all revenues owed to the government are included in the draft budget.
He declared, “We want the Liberian people to know the truth and the facts. This budget is historic because it demonstrates discipline and the collective will to protect the public interest, not just because of its size.”
Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) Commissioner General James Dorbor Jallah gave an update on national revenue performance, stating that as of November 17, 2025, the LRA has received US$715.3 million in domestic income for FY2025, surpassing the historic US$698.6 million collected in FY2024.
Despite financial limitations, he reiterated his belief that the LRA will surpass the FY2025 domestic income objective. He called for a national discussion on SOE compliance, citing State-Owned Enterprises’ (SOEs) ongoing underperformance as a significant fiscal challenge: “If SOEs met their obligations, we would be much closer to reaching the revenue target.”
The LRA forecasts US$72 million in external resources and US$1.14 billion in domestic revenue for FY2026. Commissioner Jallah reaffirmed that with sufficient finance, the goal is attainable. He outlined several significant measures, such as the nationwide implementation of Starlink connectivity to do away with manual tax procedures, the growth of Orange Money and Mobile Money payment platforms, more robust taxpayer education programs, and increased audits and enforcement to stop under-declaration.
In the meantime, House Ways and Means Chairman Hon. Jurry ended by urging the public, academia, media, and civil society to participate constructively: Technocrats are not the exclusive experts in fiscal policy. Let’s make the budget discussion more inclusive. We owe it to our people to make sure that every promise is fulfilled and every dollar is accounted for. Jurry says. In the upcoming days, more revenue-generating businesses will appear at the FY2026 National Budget Hearings prior to the expenditure hearings.
Credit: HOR
