IPNEWS: Earlier this week, the authoritative Independent Probe Newspaper, reported of uncertainties been high over recent passed US$880 Million 2025 fiscal budget by members of the ‘majority bloc’ seeking the removal of Speaker Fonati Koffa, amidst continued crisis at the House of Representatives.
The majority bloc of the House of Representatives has passed the 2025 Draft National Budget, amounting to US$880 million, amidst misgivings during series of budget hearings marred by violence including the burning of the Joint Chambers by unnamed individuals according to Police early report.
The authoritative Independent Probe Newspaper has been reliably informed of intense discussions behind the scene over the acceptance of the budget by international monetary organizations including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund over ‘questionable circumstance’ of the budget passage.
Source within international circles also tell the authoritative IPNEWS that both the IMF and World Bank views the budget passage as ‘contrary’ to their policies on transparency and open Budget practices.
As those development unfolds, former Supreme Court Associate Justice Kabineh M. Ja’nah has announced plans to challenge the contentious Fiscal Year 2025 budget if President Joseph N. Boakai signs by suing the Liberian Government, particularly targeting the Executive Branch.
Ja’nah revealed that he has engaged senior lawyers to prepare legal action. He emphasized that if President Boakai proceeds with signing the budget which is widely criticized as having been passed through questionable procedures, they will escalate the matter to the Supreme Court.
Ja’nah explained his purpose was to ask the Court to clarify whether the passage of this budget adhered to the legal requirements under the Liberia system.
Ja’nah further stated that their legal strategy involves initiating proceedings at the lower court level before advancing to the Supreme Court, depending on the outcomes of the earlier rulings. He stressed the importance of ensuring the Court defines the correct procedural framework for passing national budgets.
The controversy stems from recent actions taken by the Liberian Senate last weekend to concurred with the Majority bloc of the House of Representatives to approve the Fiscal Year 2025 National Budget, valued at 880.07 million Liberian dollars. The Senate’s decision came late on Friday, December 20, 2024, following a motion introduced by Grand Kru County Senator Numene Bartekwa. Of the 30 senators, 19 voted in favor of the budget.
However, the passage of the budget has sparked significant debate, particularly due to the manner in which the House of Representatives conducted the initial vote. The Majority bloc approved the budget during an emergency session at Monrovia City Hall, bypassing standard procedures.
Following these developments, embattled House Speaker J. Fonati Koffa publicly condemned the Majority bloc’s actions. In a post on his official Facebook page dated December 21, 2024, Koffa labeled the budget’s passage as “ultra vires.”
With the ongoing controversy, Justice Ja’nah and his legal team aim to bring clarity to the situation by holding the government accountable to constitutional and procedural standards.
On the heels of the budget passage by the ‘majority bloc’, House Speaker Cllr. Fonati Koffa labeled the Majority Bloc’s passage of the 2025 national budget as ‘ultra vires’—a legal term indicating actions taken outside the bounds of constitutional authority.
Speaker Koffa’s declaration on Facebook came amid escalating tensions within the House of Representatives, as a legislative impasse continues to deepen.
Responding to the budget’s passage, Speaker Koffa posted the term “Ultra Vires” on his Facebook page. His comment has since sparked widespread debate, with supporters praising his stance on upholding the rule of law, while others criticized him for allegedly obstructing progress.
Currently, a Bill of Information filed by Speaker Koffa’s Lawyers is yet to be ruled into by the Supreme Court. However, it remains unclear whether or not the Supreme Court of Liberia hearing the Bill of Information and consistent with its earlier ruling participated into the budget hearing held by members of the ‘Majority bloc’.
On December 6,2024, the Supreme Court of Liberia ruled that ongoing sitting by the self-styled majority bloc is ‘ultra vires, in the ongoing controversy at the House of Representatives, the Honorable Supreme Court of the Republic of Liberia.
The High court ruled that the self-styled “Majority Bloc” acted beyond its authority in recent decisions to elect a speaker, reshuffled various committees, including the choosing to hold sessions in the joint chambers of the Legislature.
The world ‘ultra vires’ is a Latin phrase that means in Law, “Acting beyond the powers”. It’s a common law principle that describes an action that is taken without legal authority.
The Court in its Friday, December 6, 2024 ruling, also mandated that the House of Representatives must conduct its activities in accordance with the law, i.e. “Any sitting not in conformity with Articles 33 and 49 of the Liberian 1986 Constitution is Utravires (Unconstitutional). Go back and act accordingly.”
Addressing concerns regarding its jurisdiction, the Court reaffirmed its authority to intervene in the House crisis, citing Article 66 of the 1986 Constitution of the Republic of Liberia as the basis for its ruling contrary to members of the majority bloc that it had no biding authority.
Article 66 of the 1986 constitution states: “The Supreme Court shall be the final arbiter of constitutional issues and shall exercise final appellate jurisdiction in all cases whether emanating from courts of record, courts not of record, administrative agencies, autonomous agencies or any other authority, both as to law and fact except cases involving ambassadors, ministers, or cases in which a county is a party. In all such cases, the Supreme Court shall exercise originate jurisdiction. The Legislature shall make no law nor create any exceptions as would deprive the Supreme Court of any of the powers granted herein.”
The majority bloc of the House of Representatives passed the 2025 Draft National Budget, amounting to US$880 million, following rigorous scrutiny and adjustments during budget hearings. The budget now awaits deliberation and concurrence by the Liberian Senate.
Initially submitted by the Executive Branch at US$851 million, the proposed budget was increased by US$29 million after detailed reviews by the House’s Committee on Ways, Means, and Finance. The adjustments aim to address critical areas such as healthcare, education, infrastructure, and security.
During the hearings, lawmakers identified additional revenue streams and reassessed expenditure priorities to increase the proposed amount. Representative James Kollie, Chairperson of the Committee on Ways, Means, and Finance, stated, “The additional US$29 million ensures that more resources are directed to critical sectors that impact the lives of ordinary Liberians. This budget reflects our commitment to equitable national development.”
In a swift move, the Liberian Senate also formally approved the 2025 National Budget, amounting to $880 million, following concurrence with the Majority Bloc of the House of Representatives. This endorsement finalizes the government’s fiscal framework for the year, shaping the financial operations of ministries and agencies nationwide.
Initially proposed at $851 million, the budget was revised upwards after thorough legislative scrutiny and adjustments. This increase reflects priorities under the administration’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID), targeting infrastructure development, debt servicing, and economic stabilization.
President Joseph Nyuma Boakai had first presented the draft budget to the National Legislature on November 18, 2024. The submission initiated an extensive review process in both chambers, leading to a 15.3% increase over the 2024 Recast Budget of $738.9 million.
The approved budget comprises two primary components: Core Revenue at $833 million and Contingent Revenue at $18.8 million. These allocations are designed to sustain government operations and implement development initiatives under the AAID framework.
Key revenue streams include Tax Revenue, projected at $633.72 million (80% of domestic revenue), and Non-Tax Revenue, estimated at $138.5 million (17.4%). Additionally, External Resources, totaling $60 million (7% of the overall budget), have been secured from international partners, including $40 million from the World Bank and $20 million from the European Union. This marks a significant 50% increase in external resources compared to the 2024 fiscal year.
The proposed budget aligns with the government’s Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development (PAPD), emphasizing investments in infrastructure, job creation, and social services. However, analysts note that the success of the budget depends on effective implementation and the prevention of corruption.
