By Nathaniel Emmanuel Davies:
Monrovia, Liberia-The plenary of the House of Representatives has mandated its joint committee on Ways, Means, Finance, and Judiciary to review an instrument seeking to decentralize Liberia’s national development planning by creating budgetary lines for each of the Country’s 73 electoral districts.
The decision which was reached during the 17th day setting of the second section of the second quarter, steamed from a proposed legislation titled, “An Act to Create a Budgetary Line for the 73 Districts within the annual national budget for development”.
The legislative instrument was introduced by Grand Bassa County District #2 Representative, Clarence Banks.
If passed, the law would obligate national government to designate a specific fiscal allocation for each district within the national budget framework, effectively enabling district-level autonomy in identifying and approving development projects.
Representative Banks anchored the bill in Articles 7 and 29 of the 1986 Constitution, which respectively confer legislative authority and establish the state’s responsibility to advance citizen participation in economic and social affairs.
He said under the provisions of the bill, districts would receive quarterly disbursements throughout the fiscal year, allowing for sustained implementation of development plans.
Banks maintained, representatives of each district, would play an active role in guiding projects from initial through completion in consultation with constituents.
The bill further mandates a competitive bidding process for all development initiatives.
He informed the plenary on Thursday, July 10, 2025, prospective contractors would be required to present proof of operational construction equipment, subject to joint inspection by the Ministries of Finance, Public Works, and the district’s elected lawmaker-adding, only bidders who meet the equipment and compliance standards would be approved to participate.
He stressed, if each district is developed, the County will be developed, and if the County is developed, the Country will be developed.
