By Precious D. Freeman
The House of Representatives (HOR) is hoping to extend its regular session in order to deliberate the FY 2024 Draft National Budget, owing to the delay in its submission by the Executive.
It can be recalled that President George M. Weah requested an extension of the FY 2024 Draft National Budget by 26 working days as of October 31, 2023.
“The basis for the request for extension is premised on the just ended Presidential and Legislative Elections, which have impacted the preparation of the FY 2024 National Budget,” President Weah added.
The Liberian Leader said, as a result of these activities, the budget preparation process was continuously interrupted.
“These interruptions have caused a delay to the timely submission of the budget as stated in Section 17.1 of the Amended and Restated Public Financial Management Law of 2019, that the President shall submit the Proposed Budget and accompanying documents to the Legislature no later than 2 months before the start of the fiscal year,” he maintained.
According to him, “being conscious that this extension will reduce the time available to the National Legislature to approve the National Budget before the start of the next fiscal year, we also do not want to undermine the important role of the IMF in these processes.”
“It is my hope that the additional time requested will also enable us to incorporate possible concerns of the IMF and other stakeholders, thereby firming up the resources envelop, along with priority expenditures that can be approved in time for the start of the new fiscal year on January 1, 2024,” President Weah stated.
In the wake of President Weah’s plea, the draft national budget is expected to be submitted on December 6, 2023.
However, the House of Representatives is expected to adjourn the 54th legislature on December 8, 2023, preceding the sitting of the 55th legislature in January 2024.
Given the date of submission, which is the 6th of December, the body, on Tuesday, November 28, 2023, during its 8th day sitting of the 3rd Quarter, said it cannot deliberate and pass the Country’s National Development envelope within two days; therefore, there is a high likelihood for extension to ensure an exhaustive discussion of the budget.
