Despite a plea from embattled House of Representatives Speaker J. Fonati Koffa to the Executive Branch of Government not to conduct business with the Majority Bloc lawmakers calling for his removal, three heads of different government entities have appeared before that body on a summon order.
It can be recalled that Speaker Koffa, in a communication to President Joseph N. Boakai, said the Majority Bloc had requested certain officials from the Executive Branch to begin appearing for hearings in the Joint Chambers of the House, rather than before the Honorable Speaker.
Speaker Koffa requested the president to instruct his officials not to appear before the majority members as doing so would “undermine the rule of law and set a dangerous precedent for our governance.”
But during Tuesday, November 12, 2024 legislative working day, the Majority Bloc’s session witnessed the appearance of Internal Affairs Minister Francis Sakila Nyumalin, Transport Minister Sirleaf Tyler, and Mo Ali, Managing Director of the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC).
According to a source, the appearance of those ministers before the Majority members definitely shows that the 2025 National Budget will likely be submitted to them, something that could further render powerless the authority of the speaker.
Meanwhile, the Majority Bloc has set up a committee to investigate Speaker Koffa on allegations of corruption, conflict of interest and impropriety, and have requested the speaker to recuse himself in the wake of the investigation.
However, that session would later turn chaotic when unidentified individual pepper sprayed the joint chamber where lawmakers were seen coughing and sneezing with red eyes.
Our reporter said the incident occurred moments after the Majority Bloc members entered to conduct their session, but earlier, the air conditioning units on the chambers were disconnected, leaving many representatives with no options but to fan themselves with handbills and sheets to cool off.
By Tonita N. Copson
