By. Abraham Multimedia Kollie
Senator Nathaniel McGill, the newly elected Chair of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) 55th Legislative Caucus, has said that the caucus will not approve President Joseph Nyumah Boakai’s request to spend US$41.3 million for the month of February, pending the submission and approval of the 2024 annual budget.
President Boakai had written to the 55th Legislature, asking for their authorization to use the amount to cover the government’s operations and avoid a shutdown. He said that the Executive Branch, through the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, was finalizing the draft budget for resubmission.
However, Senator McGill, who represents Margibi County, questioned the rationale and details of the President’s request, after the caucus leadership election on Friday, February 16, 2024, in Monrovia. He told legislative reporters that the President had not explained why he needed US$5 million to settle domestic debt, or who the beneficiaries were. He also said that the President had not specified what kind of operations he intended to fund with US$2 million.
The CDC Legislative Caucus said that their opposition to the President’s request was not meant to sabotage the Liberian people, but to promote accountability and transparency in the governance system of the country. They said that they would not support the request until the President provided more clarity and justification.
Senator McGil is one of the few public officials that are sanctioned by the United States government, but elected by the people of Margibi, a county within the Republic of Liberia.
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