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The 55th Legislature has announced the grounds of the Capitol as the venue for this year’s annual message.

The decision for the event to be held at the grounds of the capitol was necessitated by the December 18 “arson attack” on the William R. Tolbert Joint Chamber which is originally the venue for the annual message.

The State of Nation Address is in keeping with Article 58 of the 1986 Liberian Constitution which states: “The President shall, on the fourth working Monday in January of each year, present the administration’s legislative programs for the ensuing session, and shall once a year report to the Legislature on the state of the Republic.

In presenting the economic condition of the Republic the report shall cover expenditure as well as income”.

A release from both Houses of the Legislature states that due to heightened security arrangements, access to the Capitol Building premises will be strictly regulated by State Securities prior to and during the day of the annual message.

The joint release further warned those without official invitations or access passes including staffers of the Legislature to avoid the premises of the Capitol on the day of the SONA.

The release also assured the public that the President’s annual message will be live on various media platforms, mainly radios, televisions, as well as social media to allow citizens to see and listen to the message while at home or various places of work.

The joint Legislative release at the same time cautioned that only media institutions duly approved and issued access passes will be allowed to provide coverage for the upcoming national event.

The Legislature remains committed and is fully prepared to receive President Joseph N. Boakai Sr, on Monday 27 January for the sole purpose of delivering his 2nd Annual message.