IPNEWS: Scores of aggrieved youths under the banner of the Youth Alliance for Responsive Governance (YARG) on January 13 staged a peaceful protest at the Capitol Building in Monrovia, rejecting a bill that seeks to create 14 additional electoral districts in Liberia. The demonstrators described the move as self-serving and ill-timed, arguing that expanding the House of Representatives amid widespread unemployment, low wages, and rising living costs shows misplaced priorities. Carrying placards with messages such as “We Need More Jobs, Not More Lawmakers,” the youths warned senators against concurring with the bill, which has already been passed by the House of Representatives and now awaits Senate approval.
YARG Secretary General Jethro Harris criticized lawmakers for prioritizing personal and political interests over national development, saying the bill would further strain the national budget and violate the Constitution. He urged the Senate to reject the proposal and instead focus on job creation, economic reforms, and accountability, especially as thousands of graduates enter an already saturated job market. Although tensions briefly rose when senators failed to receive their petition, the youths vowed to continue mobilizing public support, insisting that Liberia’s future lies in employment opportunities and responsive governance—not an increase in lawmakers.
