MONROVIA- It is said, and rightfully so, that “he who comes into equity must come with clear hands”, but that maxim has hardly found its place within Liberian officialdom, specifically within the corridors of the National Legislature which prides itself as a sort of ombudsman over the Executive Branch that it often grills for alleged wrongdoing. One evidence of this is the fact that the Liberian Legislature, perhaps in most part of the country’s recent history, has never surrendered itself, or being made to be subjected, to independent audit or any form of financial evaluation. But it seems that is about to be history now because the head of current Senate, Pro-tempore Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence has embarked on a range of transformative agenda, which includes amongst other things, beseeching the General Auditing Commission, to put into place a financial system that would pave the way towards making the National Legislature auditable, transparent and accountable. The Analyst reports.
The administrative head of the Senate in the 55th National Legislature is treading where angels had feared: she is positioning the Senate, also fondly called the “House of Elders”, so that it receives the ambers of good governance, including undergoing critical external assessments, that would dispel long years of darkness in which it has wallowed.
Despite naysayers’ schemes to cast doubt on her vision to make a difference, Pro-Tempore Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence has assured the public she remains firm in keeping her promise to cleanse the Senate during her term.
In a press release dated Wednesday, August 14, 2024, Senator Lawrence said on the day of her induction as the President Pro Tempore of the Liberian Senate, she unveiled a list of deliverables in a reformation plan, which included having a more transparent and accountable Senate.
For the first time in the Senate’s history since 2006, the General Auditing Commission was invited a month after her induction to conduct a financial management system and controls assessment of the Senate’s operating environment.
Many, including Madam Lawrence herself, see this move a “bold and courageous action”.
She stated in the release: “The audit, which included reviews of the Senate accounting and financial management processes, policies and procedures, financial reporting, internal controls, document management system, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations, was completed with the full support and cooperation of the Senate.”
According to her, after the GAC made the final presentation, the Senate, without hesitation, approved the Report and agreed to start implementing the proper financial management systems to ensure that the Senate financial management system and controls environment begin to operate effectively and efficiently.
The audit results should enable the Liberian Senate to establish the appropriate financial management system and control environment, which will subsequently enhance accountability, transparency, and fiscal prudence in the Senate’s management.
She noted that this would lead to the Senate being audited annually, he retorted those who might think preliminary assessments of the Senate by the GAC amount to regular audit.
Senate Lawarence further indicated that in the conclusion of the report, “we wrote a communication to agree with the GAC that the report is based on a non-systematic financial regime; therefore, its findings do not conform to any system breach that was not followed in the Senate”.
“This means that the Senate has never had any systems in place to be audited. We are asking to work with the GAC and other financial institutions to develop a financial management system and procedures that can be audited during and after our leadership,” she clarified.
The Senate Pro-Tempore said Legislature must lead by example, and her administration is doing everything to meet expectations.
“If we cannot run a transparent and accountable Legislature, we cannot use our oversight responsibility to hold other institutions accountable,” he added, promising to continue to update the public on the progress of the Senate’s reformation agenda.
Senate Work Not in Public
The press release quotes the Senate Pro-Tempore as informing the public that the legislature’s work is not done in the public, and that here administration will not be dragged into doing such.
“Before the second closure, the Senate raised concerns about shifting in the final printed copy of the 2024 National Budget and agreed to have that investigated during the recast since a return from our break to look at a recast budget is imminent,” Senator Lawrence said in apparent response to critics who contend that the Senate is silent in reports of alleged budget tempering.
Continuing, she asserted that the Senate works through committees and no issues have been downplayed or compromised by her leadership.
“We look forward to returning as soon as possible to resolve all issues of concerns in addition to the recast of the budget,” she averred.
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