President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, has submitted a bill to the Liberian Senate seeking the establishment of the State Board Enterprises Authority of Liberia (SBEA), a new institution that would replace the existing Bureau of State Enterprises (BSE).
The bill, which was formally laid before the Senate during its session on Thursday, October 4, 2025, proposes the repeal of Article Two of Interim National Assembly Decree No. 8 of 1985—the decree that created the Bureau of State Enterprises under the former People’s Redemption Council (PRC) government.
In his communication addressed to Senate President Pro Tempore Nomi Lawrence, President Boakai emphasized that the proposed authority would serve as a central regulatory and supervisory body for all state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and other government entities in which the state holds significant interest.
“The purpose of the authority shall be to monitor and regulate state-owned enterprises and the government on all matters relating to the formulation, operations, and administration of state-owned enterprises and state interest sectors,” the President’s letter read.
President Boakai further explained that the State Board Enterprises Authority would help harmonize the functions, responsibilities, and governance structures of SOEs across Liberia, ensuring efficiency, accountability, and alignment with national development goals.
“I strongly encourage the Legislature to enact this important instrument which will help promote responsibility to monitor and harmonize the activities of state-owned enterprises and state interests within the Republic,” the President added.
During the Senate session, after the communication was read by the Assistant Secretary of the Senate, lawmakers deliberated briefly on the procedural standing of the bill. A motion was later made that the proposed legislation be received and referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Claims, Human Rights, and Petitions, as well as the Committee on Autonomous Agencies and Commissions for review and recommendations.
Following the discussion, it was confirmed that the bill had undergone its first reading and will remain on the Senate’s agenda for a second reading in the next sitting.
If enacted, the State Board Enterprises Authority of Liberia will replace the Bureau of State Enterprises, which has existed since 1985, marking a major institutional reform aimed at strengthening public sector governance and oversight of government-owned companies.
It is however noted that the move aligns with President Boakai’s broader reform agenda to improve public sector efficiency, curb mismanagement, and ensure that state enterprises contribute meaningfully to national growth and development.
