The Specialized Committee of the House of Representatives set up recently to probe into the issue of budget tempering has presented a critical report to Plenary, confirming that unauthorized alterations had been made to the 2024 National Budget.
The Committee, established by Speaker J. Fonati Koffa, was tasked with investigating these allegations of budget tampering. However, the report’s presentation was marked by the absence of the committee chairperson, Robert Wombe.
Despite the confirmation of unauthorized changes, Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah took the controversial step of directing the House Committee on Ways, Means, and Finance to proceed with revising the draft recast budget. This directive was issued even though the recast budget had been put on hold, pending action on the unauthorized alterations.
Deputy Speaker Fallah’s decision to move forward, disregarding the ongoing deliberations and objections from his colleagues, sparked significant tension in the chamber of the House on Wednesday.This latest development follows Speaker Koffa’s earlier announcement during an extraordinary session on August 29, 2024, where he suspended the review process for the draft recast budget.
Speaker Koffa said this suspension would remain in place until the Special Investigative Committee, led by Representative Robert Wombe, completed its inquiry and presented its findings. He stressed that the decision was made to uphold the House’s commitment to transparency and accountability within Liberia’s governance system.
“The scrutiny of the budget is a crucial process, and it is our responsibility to ensure that it is conducted with the utmost integrity and transparency,” Speaker Koffa stated.
He added, “We will not proceed with any budget scrutiny until Wombe’s Special Investigative Committee completes its investigation and delivers its findings.”
The extraordinary session, which commenced on August 29, is scheduled to continue until September 19, 2024. During his address, Speaker Koffa also commended the Representatives for their dedication, noting their willingness to work without pay under challenging circumstances.
“The dedication shown by my fellow Representatives in returning to work without compensation is evidence of their commitment to the welfare of our nation. This is a collective effort to ensure that we fulfill our duties in the best interest of Liberia,” Speaker Koffa added.
