IPNEWS: The Liberian Senate voted Thursday, December 18, 2025, to concur with the House of Representatives on the passage of the 2026 National Budget, totaling approximately US$1.249 billion.
This spending plan is recorded as the largest national budget in Liberia’s history.
The finalized fiscal envelope stands at LRD 247.8 billion, equivalent to US$1,249,665,191.15.
The budget is heavily reliant on domestic revenue (94%), with external resources accounting for the remaining 6%. It includes a projected US$200 million signature bonus from the ArcelorMittal deal.
Major funding is prioritized for infrastructure (road construction and rehabilitation), energy (electricity generation and expansion), and social sectors including health, education, and agriculture.
Significant provisions are made for the payment of both domestic and external debts to strengthen national financial credibility.
The Senate’s approval on December 18 followed a majority vote; notable dissenters included Senators Edwin Snowe and Samuel Kogar, who voted against the concurrence.
The House of Representatives previously approved the draft on December 11, 2025, with 42 votes in favor and 2 against.
The budget now awaits final endorsement and signing into law by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai before being printed into a handbill.
The 2026 Budget Act includes several new governance directives:
Implementation of mandatory monthly ECOWAS Levy deductions.
Ministries, agencies, and State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) must submit quarterly financial and performance reports.
A mandatory 25% procurement allocation is required for Liberian-owned businesses.
No new additions to the government payroll are permitted without authorization from the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning.
