Four Senators from the Southeast of Liberia have written the Plenary of the Liberian Senate seeking intervention regarding the Proposed Dissolution of Cities, Boroughs, and Townships under Sections 2.16(c). 2.16(d), and 2.16(e) of the Local Government Act.
In a communication to Plenary on Thursday, May 19, 2026, Grand Kru Senator Albert T. Chie, Numene T. H Bartekwa and Sinoe County Senator Augustine S. Chea and Crayton O. Duncan said the Ministry of Local Government intends to proceed with the dissolution of certain cities, boroughs, and townships that allegedly do not meet the population and infrastructure thresholds established under Sections 2.16(c), 2.16(d), and 2.16(e) of the Local Government Act (LGA).
The Senators said the cited Sections of the LGA also expressly require that the Minister of Local Government shall first report to the Legislature on the status of each city, borough, and township for the purpose of reaffirmation, noting that to date, there is no indication that such report has been formally submitted to the National Legislature as mandated by the LGA.
They said in the absence of compliance with this statutory prerequisite, any attempt by the Ministry to proceed with the dissolution of any municipality would be premature, procedurally defective, and inconsistent with the express requirements of the LGA itself.
“Additionally, the cities, boroughs, and townships that may be affected were established through specific legislative enactments. As statutory creations, their legal existence is grounded in separate enabling Acts and legislative instruments. Consequently, while the Local Government Act may provide standards and grounds for dissolution, the actual extinguishment of the legal existence and corporate status of those municipalities may still require affirmative legislative action repealing or amending the specific statutes that created them,” they said.
Both Counties Senators said Sections 2.16(c), 2.16(d), and 2.16(e) of the LGA mandate the dissolution of cities, boroughs, and townships that fail to satisfy the prescribed population and infrastructure thresholds, the same provision requires the Minister of Local Government to first report to the Legislature on the status of each of the cities, boroughs, and townships and this reporting requirement necessarily contemplates legislative review and action, particularly where the municipalities that may be affected were themselves created by legislative enactments.
According to them, such report is intended to inform the Legislature’s determination as to whether repeal, amendment, reaffirmation, or any other legislative action concerning the enabling statutes of those municipalities is warranted before any lawful dissolution may occur.
“Under well-established constitutional and legal principles, a municipal entity or a political subdivision created by an Act of the Legislature cannot ordinarily cease to exist solely through administrative Implementation of the general language of a statute absent legislative repeal, amendment, or reaffirmation of its enabling statute. To hold otherwise would effectively permit an executive ministry or agency to nullify legislative enactments without further legislative action, thereby raising serious constitutional concerns regarding separation of powers and legislative supremacy in the lawmaking process,” Senators said.
They indicated that the contemplated action carries significant implications for governance continuity, municipal authority, local representation, public administration, existing ordinances, public assets, contractual obligations, and the status of local officials serving within the municipalities that may be affected.
Senators said given the substantial legal and constitutional issues implicated by this matter, they respectfully request that the Senate urgently invite the Minister of Local Government to appear before the Senate sitting as a Committee of the Whole to clarify; Whether the mandatory report required under Section 2.16(c) has been prepared and submitted to the Legislature; the legal basis upon which the Ministry intends to proceed absent legislative reaffirmation and possible repeal of the enabling statutes; and the administrative and legal processes being contemplated regarding the status of the municipalities subject to the proposed dissolution.
They said until the Legislature receives and acts upon the report contemplated under Section 2.16(c), and determines the appropriate legislative measures concerning the enabling statutes of the municipalities that may be affected, no dissolution should lawfully proceed.
