Monrovia, Liberia – Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan on Monday firmly rejected growing criticism that the University of Liberia (UL) is not receiving its current budget allotments. According to critics, this could delay the university yearly operation.
In a September 9, 2025, MFDP release, Minister Ngafuan claimed that the government had fulfilled all of its official financial commitments to the university. He also referred to UL’s recent request for an extra US$500,000 as “off-budget support,” which is not covered by the national budget framework.
The Senate was informed last week by UL President Dr. Layli Maparyan that the institution had written to the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning to request US$500,000 emergency infusion. She said that the money was desperately needed for maintenance on campus and to compensate professors who had not yet been paid before the start of the new semester.
Speaking directly to the proposal, Minister Ngafuan warned of the wider financial consequences of granting such appeals during an appearance on State Radio (ELBC). Off-budget expenditures run the risk of weakening long-term planning and national budget discipline, notwithstanding their potential emotional appeal, he said.
Last year, the university’s budget was approximately US$33.7 million. According to Ngafuan, it is US$34 million this year. “We ensure timely payments and that the university receives its funding. Contrary to impressions, the government has not deprived the university.”
Ngafuan acknowledged the practical difficulties facing the university but emphasized that the government cannot tolerate the “dangerous precedent” created by frequent off-budget requests.
“Asking for more is one thing, but using what you have is quite another. Any additional funding would fall outside the purview of the national budget,” he said.
According to the minister, nearly US$32 million of UL’s US$34 million allocation for fiscal year 2025 is committed to salaries, leaving limited funds for operational or capital expenses, a constraint he described as common across all government sectors.
Minister Ngafuan confirmed that the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning will provide the funds requested by UL early this week.
