to authorize the Minister of Finance Development Planning to redirect road funds.
Grand Bassa County senator Nyonblee Karmga-Lawrence has described actions taken by members of the Liberian Senate as illegal criminal and has the propensity to bring that August body to public disrepute.
According to the Grand Bassa Lawmaker, the Legislature does not give verbal authorization, neither does the President Pro-tempore of the Liberian Senate or the Speaker have such authority to authorize the Minister of Finance Development Planning to redirect road funds.
She noted that there is no provision of the National Road Fund Act that grants the authority of the Road Fund Steering Committee or the Minister of Finance and Development Planning to redirect road funds for other purposes other than those provided in the Act. She mentioned that there is no provision in the PFM Law of 2009 that supersedes the Road Fund Act. Senator Karmga-Lawrence expressed regret and called on her colleagues to revisit their actions to take responsibility for the matter by calling on Minister Tweah to give a comprehensive report on the expenditures; and if the reports are proven to be correct, the Ministry must be instructed to replenish the road funds from the Government revenue in the next budget.
She said the illegal redirection of the road funds raises eyebrows and needs urgent attention for members of the Liberian Legislature to find an amicable solution. According to the Senator, these illegal acts have the tendency of scaring away investors and called on her colleagues to do the right thing for the growth and development of the country.
Sen. Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence said the image of the Legislature has been tarnished over the years whenever a bad decision is made by majority Lawmakers, according to her, all of the Lawmakers on capital Hill are guilty of bad decisions; though not every lawmaker is engaged in such acts.
It can be recalled that on Thursday, June 21, 2022, the plenary took a decision vindicating the Minister of Finance Development Planning for wrongdoing in the road funds Wahala.
Reported by: Joseph N. Kerkula
Email: jnkerkula@gmail.com
Contact: +231777376826
