Pro Tempore Addresses 2nd Session of 55th Legislature -Reports on 2024 Progress, Outlines Plans for 2025

In the spirit of transparency, accountability and open governance, Senate Pro Tempore Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence on January 13, 2025, presented to the 2^nd session of the 55th Legislature a summary report of the 1st Session, including the current state of the Senate governance and financial management practices.

She spoke of critical legislative reforms undertaken during the year but noted it all hinges on enhanced accountability and transparency.

“As of December 2024, many recommendations of the 174 GAC recommendations from our system audit have been successfully executed, with expectations to achieve 50% completion by early 2025,” Pro Tempore Lawrence said.  

According to her, key initiatives include forming the Audit Recommendations Implementation Committee to oversee further progress and ensure long-term adherence to GAC directives.

“I want to thank you, my Distinguished Colleagues, for the year 2024. The unity, regardless of political affiliation, your support and cooperation, dedication to your committee work, regular engagements, and consultations as a team, helped to make the first year of my leadership a successful one,” he asserted.

“Today, we are here to resume the 2nd Session of the 55th Legislature, and I wish to present to you a summary report of the 1st Session, including the current state of the Senate governance and financial management practices.”

Outlining the Senate’s achievements under her aegis, Pro Tempore Lawrence said the Senate established four functional committees in line with the public financial management (PFM) regulations, including the Procurement Committee, the Budget Committee, the IT Committee, and the Strategic Plan Committee.

These committees, she disclosed, are designed to provide structure, accountability, and effective oversight.

To streamline financial operations, Pro Tempore Lawrence said her administration has prioritized drafting critical policy manuals, including a Financial Procedure Manual, an HR Manual, a Risk Management Manual and an IT Policy Manual.

She said the documents are aligned with Senate Rules, Public Financial Management (PFM) Regulations, and best practices. A Financial Manual draft is expected by the end of January 2025, and an HR expert is being consulted for further refinement.

Recognizing the importance of capacity building, Senator Lawrence said her administration spearheaded training sessions on “Enhancing Governance Through Operational Planning and Budgeting”, and an upcoming training session on IPSAS-compliance financial statements in January 2025, aimed at enabling Senate staff to prepare accurate and standardized financial reports.”

For the progress made thus far, she lauded the cooperation and outstanding efforts of Financial Consultant Eric Cassell, the point person from the Office of the Pro Temp, Mr. Alvin Clark, the Secretary of the Senate, Mr. Narborloh Singbeh, Sen. Browne, the Chair on Rules, Order and Administration, Sen. Twayan, Chair on Modernization, Sen. Moye, Chair on Ways, Means, and Finance and Sen. Chie the Protemp Emeritus for the supervisory role played.

In response to the Senate’s historical lack of IT infrastructure, Pro Tempore Lawrence said the Senate contracted an IT consultant, John B. Bryant and initiated a digitization strategy, including implementing scalable software to automate financial processes; establishing IT governance frameworks to ensure data security, access control, and operational continuity; and plans to set up a server environment in early 2025.

“The Senate has purchased a biometric system for employees’ attendance records, and installation and training is going on by our IT consultant,” Pro Tempore said.

Aware of the maxim, “one who fails to plan, plans to fail”, Pro Tempore Lawrence, worked with her colleagues and other stakeholders and crafted a strategic plan that seeks to strengthen the quality of democratic governance by promoting a more modernized, participatory, and accountable Liberian Senate – efforts that call for building capacity to enhance oversight and to increase accountability of the governance framework.

This is why this Strategic Plan looks forward to focusing on strengthening the Senate’s capacity to exercise its oversight and be more accountable for the laws we enact, she noted, adding, “it desires to be equipped with the knowledge, skills, and technology it needs in order to execute its function with expedience”.

The Pro Tempore reported that the Senate contracted Dr. Yarsuo Weh-Dorliae, Governance Consultant, to work with a committee headed by the modernization chairman to work on the strategic plan for the Senate.

Among other significant achievements of Pro Tempore Lawrence’s stewardship of the Liberian Senate, there was marked improvement in the reporting system through monitoring and evaluation documentation; the production of a weekly journal and the updating of the Senate’s website for public consumption.

The Liberian Senate, in collaboration with the Civil Service Agency, also retired 43 persons.

In addition to their required benefits, the Senate has given a handshake envelope to each retiree in appreciation of their services rendered. Those retired had worked at the Senate for more than 15 years or are 65 years and over, the oldest retiree being 83 years.

The Senate, at a retreat in Buchanan City in June 2024, reviewed the Senate Rules and passed on all amendments in the Plenary. The Rules have been printed and distributed to all Senators.

Renovation work of the Senate, which will include the renovation of the Senate’s original Chambers, is ongoing.

With regards to institutional security, the Senate has asked the Liberia National police to take charge of the security at the Senate and work in collaboration with the senate security department until all security measures are put in place by the Defense and Security Committee.

“We ask for the cooperation of everyone to ensure the proper execution of measures that will be put in place,” she said. “We are concluding arrangements with the Minister of Public Works for the installation of Solar-Powered Streetlights to enhance nighttime visibility and deter criminal activities around the Capitol Building.”

“The Security and Defense Committee is also consulting for the installation of a state-of-the-art CCTV surveillance system covering all key areas within and around the Capitol Building. This will complement real-time monitoring that will enhance rapid response to any incidents and aid in post-event investigations,” Pro Tempore Lawrence said.

Touching on the wellbeing of employees of the Liberian Senate, Pro Tempore Lawrence said water and sanitation which have been a major concern have been addressed.

“Two buses were provided for the staff. The funding for health insurance is now available and the process to select a provider is ongoing by the ROA committee. A waiting and entertainment room was built and dedicated for all drivers of Senators and in central administration.

“The Liberian Senate had three special sittings in 2024, and all staff were paid for two sittings, and the payment for the final sitting is being processed from the 2025 national budget that was signed by the President after the press statement from the leadership of the staffers.

“We would like to inform the leadership of the Senate staffers, that the Senate will no longer tolerate unlawful disruptions of the Senate functions and misleading information to the public. The press conference by the leadership accusing the Senate of denying staff Special siting benefits is false and misleading, and the Senate Rules Order and Administration Committee (ROA) Chairman has been asked to investigate this matter and take appropriate actions.

“We wish to encourage the leadership to always use the options of engagement and proper research to address matters of concern. The chairperson of the Rules, Order and Administration committee has been very assessable and cooperative. All Committees are required to report on a weekly basis as of Tuesday, January 21, 2025, on Bills in committee rooms. Failure to submit on two occasions will result in the setting up of Ad-hoc Committees or Committee-of-the-Whole to expedite these processes,” Pro Tempore Lawrence cautioned.

Regarding the issue of legislations, Senator Lawrence said under her aegis, and in collaboration with her colleagues, the Senate, from January to December 2024 passed 27 legislations, 18 ratifications, three amendments, six enactments, and confirmed 996 nominees, while 40 legislations were in Committee Rooms awaiting legislation.

“As a result of these reports, I wish to inform all Committees that the agenda for the first three months will focus on all bills in Committee Rooms,” she said. “All Committees are required to report on a weekly basis as of Tuesday, January 21, 2025, on Bills in committee rooms.”

She instructed that failure to submit on two occasions will result in the setting up of Ad-hoc Committees or Committee-of-the-Whole to expedite these processes.

The Secretary of the Senate was also tasked by the Senate boss to officially communicate to all relevant Committees by January 14, 2025.

Senator Lawrence informed her colleagues that 40 bills needed to be prioritized, including An act to amend Chapter 31 of the Executive Law of 1972 to establish the Liberia Tourism Authority; An Act to amend Title 30 of the Public Authority Law, Liberia Code of Laws Revised to establish the Liberia National Tourism Authority.

Others included an Act to ratify the Protocol to the African Chapter on Human and People’s Rights on the establishment of an African Court on Human and People Rights; An Act to establish the Liberia Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Commission; An Act to establish the Liberia Capitol Police (LCP) 2024;  Zoning Law of Liberia 2024; Presidential Transitional Act of 2024; Decent Work Act; Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex; The Ministry of Local Government; An Act to amend Chapter 4 Sections 4.2, 4.3, and 4.4 of the Criminal Procedure Law on Statute of Limitations; The elections law; and The census report.

“In keeping with our oversight responsibilities, we would like to see a more aggressive approach from all Committees on the tracking of budget programs and implementation in all sectors. We would like to have a quarterly performance report from all ministries and agencies through the committees for debates and actions.”

She also asked the Ways, Means and Finance Committee to ensure that the Ministry of Finance give a quarterly disbursement report to encourage timely payments to sectors for the timely execution of projects and programs that are needed for the growth and development of our country and the well-being of our people.

“The Committee on Public Works is mandated to give the Senate a report in one week on the list of road projects in the budget, locations, costs, and timelines, including outstanding projects,” Madam Lawrence said further. “The Committee on Energy and Environment is mandated to finalize an assessment of the Senate building by the Liberia Electricity Cooperation (LEC) to install a meter for the purpose of paying our electricity bills. We want to take the lead in paying bills for the sustainability of the entity and hold all Government Ministries and Agencies accountable for doing the same.”