For many years, the submission of the draft annual budget to the Legislature has been a ceremonial event. However, the presentation of the 2025 Draft National Budget marked a stark departure from tradition.
President Joseph Boakai, represented by the Ministry of Finance, “Nicodemusly” submitted the draft national budget for Fiscal Year 2025 to the National Legislature through the office of the Chief Clerk, bypassing the usual public ceremony.
Typically, the Finance Minister or their Deputy presents the budget directly to the Speaker in a live, official event. This year, however, such a presentation did not take place.
The unconventional submission comes as a majority of House members push for the removal of Speaker Fonati Koffa, who has firmly stated that resignation is not an option.
Political observers believe that Speaker Koffa’s press conference on Monday was triggered moments after he learned of the Executive’s decision to submit the budget to the Chief Clerk.
The Deputy Chief Clerk, who is currently acting in the role, is known to be aligned with the “majority bloc” seeking the Speaker’s removal.
In a communication addressed to the “Presiding,” President Boakai described the budget submission as a significant step in his administration’s financial planning process. The proposed budget totals $851.8 million, with $833 million in core revenue and an additional $18.8 million in contingent revenue.
“The submission reflects a 15.3% increase from the 2024 Recast Budget of $738.9 million,” a statement from the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs, and Tourism (MiCAT) noted.
President Boakai indicated that the increased allocation aligns with the priorities of the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID), a strategy aimed at fostering economic growth and tackling key developmental challenges in Liberia.
He urged lawmakers to expedite the review and approval process to ensure the effective execution of the budget beginning in January 2025.
The President highlighted the need for swift legislative action, emphasizing that the allocation includes provisions for debt servicing and other critical government obligations.
“The submission adheres to Section 17.1 of the 2019 Amendment and Restatement of the Public Financial Management Act of 2009, which requires timely presentation of the national budget to the Legislature,” the statement added.
The government’s budget proposal is now before the lawmakers, setting the stage for deliberations that will shape the allocation of resources across various sectors in the upcoming fiscal year, the statement concluded.
