Nimba County District #7 Representative, Musa Hassan Bility has called on President Joseph Nuyma Boakai to take charge of his government amid mounting concerns about alleged constitutional violations by some officials of his seven-month-old administration.
Representative Bility believes that President Boakai doesn’t have control of his government due to the continuous breach of the Liberian Constitution by some of his appointed officials without taking action against them.
The lawmaker in a social media post noted, “Dear JNB, I write to express deep concern about the recent actions of some of your officials which I believe are unconstitutional and unruly.”
Representative Bility, believed to be one of the vocal lawmakers in the lower House, said “It is troubling to hear about the Mayor of Monrovia’s decision to dismiss civil servants for speaking out against the government. Such actions pose a threat to the peace and security of our country. As President, you must take charge and address these issues. Your silence on these matters is contributing to a sense of lawlessness and disorder.”
“There have been too many violations of the constitution without appropriate action. I urge you to take control of your government before the situation worsens. I also urge you to immediately reinstate the dismissed civil servants. I sincerely hope that my concerns are taken seriously,” Representative Bility said.
It can be recalled that the Monrovia City Corporation (MCC) went ahead on Tuesday to dismiss nine employees for what is termed as making dangerous comments against President Joseph N. Boakai.
This latest action by authorities at the MCC according to information, is a result of recommendation by Civil Servant Director, Josiah Joekai requesting the MCC boss to dismiss those who continue to insult the President while in the very government.
A letter issued to one of the dismissed employees, Boye Koikoi, Revenue Agent/Distribution, dated August 13, 2024, under the subject: ‘Letter of Termination’, stated that “said termination emulates from your consistent and deliberate action portrayed on social media by engaging insults at the Excellency, Ambassador Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., President of the Republic of Liberia, and government officials including the Government of Liberia relentlessly without any regards to your official position as Revenue Agent/Distribution of the Monrovia City Corporation.”
However, the Nimba lawmaker is not the only person who has criticized the president on similar matters. For instance, the Resident Circuit Judge of Grand Bassa County, Joe Barkon, recently rallied lawyers and civil society to engage President Boakai administration over what he calls “flagrant violations of the rule of law.”
Speaking Monday, August 12, 2024 during the opening of the 2nd Judicial Circuit Court in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, Judge Barkon said the suspension of the Executive Governor of the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL), Aloysius Tarlue, was not accorded due process and is in violation of the 1986 Constitution of Liberia.
The Grand Bassa Judge said since the inception of the administration of President Boakai, there have been lots of cries on radio and other media outlets in and out of the country of the government’s action of indefinite suspension from duties of individuals with tenured positions from several government agencies and entities.
Highlighting instances, Barkon named the Liberia Telecommunication Authority (LTA), the Governance Commission, National Social Security and Welfare Corporation (NASSCORP), the Governor of the Central Bank of Liberia, and other allegations of arbitrary dismissal of some government employees at various public institutions.
