State of Emergency Needs Approval to Exceed 7 Days -Sen. Dillon: Pres. Weah Didn’t Informed Legislature

Montserrado Senator Abraham Darius Dillon says the President can, on his or her own, declare a state of emergency for no later than seven days, but noted however that the State of Emergency ceases to continue without two-third approval of both Houses of the National the Legislature after a week.

The Senator was reacting to public expectation that the Legislature would have would have met yesterday, April 9, 2020 to act on the State of Emergency as imposed by the President George Manneh Weah.

Although President Weah imposed a State of Emergency on Wednesday, April 8 and sought approval from the joint Houses of the National Legislature, the Legislature failed to convened Thursday, 9th of April as stated by the president in his nationwide address imposing the State of Emergency.

There has not been any official explanation on why the Legislature did not meet up to press time, but the Senator of Montserrado County Abraham Darius Dillon stated in a Facebook live post that the President can, on his or her own, declare a state of emergency for no later than seven days. Senator Dillon furthered that the State of Emergency ceases to continue without legislative approval at the expiration of the seven days’ period.

Dillon pointed out that when the President lays before the Legislature on or before expiration of the 7-day period, the Legislature has later than three days to concur with or modify the measures, or even revoke the state of emergency.

Senator further explained that when the Legislature concurs by a joint resolution voted upon by two-thirds majority of BOTH Houses, with or without modification of the measures submitted by the President, the state of emergency holds and continues, indicating that the state of emergency is AUTOMATICALLY revoked and ceases to continue when the Legislature fails to meet the required concurrence votes of two-third of each of the Houses.

The tough-talking analytical legislator draws public attention to Article 88 of the Liberian Constitution and said that a State of Emergency as declared by the President begins at 11:59PM tomorrow, Friday April 10, 2020 UNTIL the Legislature decides.

Besides, he said the Legislature did not meet in session yesterday, Thursday for two reasons: Firstly, that the Legislature is officially on Easter Break, and, secondly that the Legislature was not formally informed in keeping with protocols as was publicly announced by the President on Wednesday.

“So, when the formal protocols are met, Legislature will assemble and fulfil our constitutional duty in this regard,” Senator Dillon concluded.