Monrovia, Liberia – Representative Musa Hassan Bility of Nimba County District #7 has criticized the newly enacted Threshold Bill as “a constitutional breach, an economic provocation, and a political distortion the country cannot afford” in one of the Legislature’s sharpest internal rebukes to date.
Rep. the political leader of the Citizens Movement for Change (CMC) issued a formal statement on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, warning that the bill, which was presented as a standard modification to electoral population thresholds, was actually a secret expansion of the House of Representatives, increasing the number of seats from 73 to 87.
He claimed that the action compromises the National Elections Commission’s function, goes against the equal representation principle, and puts an unsupportable financial burden on a faltering economy. According to Bility, lawmakers are required by the Constitution to establish a neutral population threshold based only on census data, not to add seats in order to forward political agendas.
“The Legislature is supposed to establish a rule of fairness, not invent opportunities for more political chairs,” he said.
Bility argued that the proposed expansion could result in long-term financial consequences for taxpayers by pushing the Legislature’s already enormous US$52 million budget to about US$60 million, before inflation or future changes. He cautioned that the legislative budget would soon surpass US$100 million due to salary, allowances, staff, and operating expenses associated with each additional seat.
This is taking place at a time when classrooms are overcrowded, hospitals are short on syringes, and our youth are wandering the streets in despair. Bility explained, “It conveys a painful message that lawmakers are more concerned with increasing their comfort than lessening hardship for citizens.”
According to the CMC Political Leader, the bill also jeopardizes the nation’s democratic integrity by giving political actors the ability to affect the number and configuration of electoral districts—a power that is constitutionally exclusive to the NEC. This kind of interference runs the risk of producing unequal voting power among counties and escalating political animosity.
He called on civil society, the media, and regular people to carefully review the measure and oppose what he called a dangerous precedent. He urged the Liberian Senate to reject the bill and demand a constitutionally sound threshold law that maintains the current number of seats. Bility implied that the Supreme Court, which he claimed is still the ultimate defender of constitutional discipline, would eventually hear the case.
“Liberia is at a fragile moment. When the political branches lose their way, the Court must call them back to the Constitution we all swore to uphold,” he added.
In the midst of growing public discussion about the expense, legality, and ramifications of growing the national legislature, the Threshold Bill is currently awaiting Senate approval.
Reported by: Prince Saah
