A pro-democracy organization, the Faith and Justice Network, says it is deeply outraged by the disturbing revelations of gross fiscal irresponsibility and economic mismanagement in the recent financial reports from the National Legislature.
The network’s Executive Director, Reverend-Doctor Tolbert Jallah said a vast majority of the Liberian people, already wrestling with abject poverty, are now facing the consequences of a system that appears increasingly focused on enriching itself at the expense of the nation’s most vulnerable citizens.
Addressing a press conference held in Monrovia on Tuesday, Reverend Doctor Jallah said, “We are rising our voices to expose the irresponsible misuse of public funds and the absolute insensitivity displayed by the very people entrusted with the responsibility to improve the lives of Liberia’s citizens.”
According to Jallah, the legislators must be aware that FJN opposes all laws and policies that attempt to criminalize, dehumanize or punish civil servants through budgetary allocations.
“In approximately one year,” he went on, “the appropriation for constituency visit budget for legislators ballooned from US$330,000 to a staggering US$2.054, 913.”
“Similarly, funding for “Legislative Committee Hearings” and “In-house Meetings” surged from US$3.6 million to over US$13.9 million – an astronomical increase of more than 300%,” he said; adding: “these outrageous increases in spending raise serious questions about the priorities of some of our lawmakers, who have clearly chosen to divert resources that should be used to improve the lives of the poor towards their own pockets.”
Jallah said in total, the legislature has consumed an astounding US$53.2 million in less than a year.
“This figure is not only a misuse of public funds but also an indictment of a system that continues to prioritize the comfort and luxury of a few over the urgent needs of the Liberian people.”
He said at a time when Liberia is ranked the 8th poorest country in the world, it is deeply troubling that the legislature has decided to cosset in such fiscal profligacy while the majority of our citizens struggle to survive.
The Faith and Justice Network maintained that the resources are not the private wealth of any legislator, but rather, they are the hard-earned taxes of the Liberian people – monies that should be used to create jobs, build infrastructure, provide social services that uplift the lives of those suffering from extreme poverty, examples, the health workers, teachers, food producers, fisher folks, etc.
“This is not the change citizens were promised; because, it is, in fact, a betrayal of the very people who entrusted their votes to elected officials in hopes of better governance and a more equitable society,” Jallah said.
The Faith and Justice Network said it stands with the poor and marginalized citizens of Liberia, who continue to suffer while the elite few continue to feast on the nation’s resources.
The network called on the legislature to immediately provide full and transparent accountability for the funds they allocated themselves in the fiscal year 2024 annual budget.
The network also demanded that they explain the purpose and outcome of these excessive expenditures and show the Liberian people how their resources have been used to improve their lives.
