The legal grace period granted under the Local Government Act of 2018 for existing cities in Liberia to meet certain administrative and infrastructural benchmarks is nearing expiration.
With the seven-year transitional window set to close on November 19, 2025, several cities that fail to meet the criteria outlined in the Act may face relegation to town status.
This development could significantly reduce the number of officially recognized cities in the country to just 16 — representing the capital cities of the 15 counties and Monrovia.
According to Section 2.16(c) of the Local Government Act, cities other than the national and county capitals are required to undergo a review process to reaffirm their status based on well-defined standards. If they fall short, these cities risk losing their legal designation, which could affect local governance structures, administrative authority, and associated government jobs. The review includes existing cities, boroughs, and townships, which are all subject to legal scrutiny for reaffirmation or downgrading.
Senator J. Gbleh-bo Brown of Maryland County, who served as Chair on Internal Affairs during the passage of the Act in the 54th Legislature, recently reminded his colleagues in the 55th Legislature that both the relegation of cities and the dissolution of statutory districts are due following the end of the grace period.
He referenced Sections 2.15(a) and 2.16(c), which also mandate the retirement of employees in statutory districts as part of the transition to a fully decentralized governance framework. The Act is part of the government’s broader plan to devolve political, administrative, and fiscal authority from the central government to local structures across Liberia.
In response to Senator Brown’s communication, the Liberian Senate has instructed its Joint Committee on Internal Affairs and Judiciary to engage the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The Committee has been tasked to seek a detailed retirement plan for statutory district employees and a reaffirmation methodology for assessing cities’ legal status. Plenary unanimously endorsed this request, emphasizing the need for immediate administrative action ahead of the 2025 deadline.
If enforced, the Act’s provisions could bring transformative changes to Liberia’s local governance landscape, reshaping the structure and function of city-level administration nationwide.
