The National Civil Society Union of Liberia (NACSUL) says its attention has been drawn to the repeated attacks against the Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Samuel D. Tweah, Jr.
Recently, three national youth and students’ Movements including the Federation of Liberian Youth (FLY), the Liberia National Student Union (LINSU) and the Mano River Union Youth Parliament, Liberia Chapter (MRUYP-LC) accused Minister Tweah and his team of technicians of being unfit to lead the country’s fiscal policy.
But NACSUL in a release signed by Henry Williams said these are unwarranted and negative propagandas by the three statutory youth and students’ Movements thereby describing it as baseless, unsubstantiated and only intended to besmear the hard earned credentials and reputations of these technicians who are working tirelessly along with their international partners including the IMF, the African Development Bank, the World Bank Group to resuscitate the Liberian economy.
NACSUL said it does not see any merit in the Movement’s coordinated calls for the resignation of the Minister of Finance and Development Planning and therefore termed their quest as complete embarrassment to the youthful generation of the country.
NACSUL reminded FLY, LINSU and the MRUYP-LC that the current economic hardship is not only unique to Liberia but it is a global problem that started since 2014 when the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) broke out which paralyzed several economies especially around West Africa followed by the 2020 outbreak of the coronavirus which is still crippling several developed countries around the World especially in Europe and the Americas least to say Africa with Liberia in particular.
The civil society group recounted that it is under the leadership of Minister Tweah that there has been increased budget support from bilateral and multilateral partners due to the confidence repose in his ability to transform the fiscal arm of the Liberian government.
NACSUL said it is this same Minister and his technical team at the Ministry of Finance who have not only managed to harmonize the salaries of civil servants to commensurate with their various positions but to also ensure that civil servants are paid regularly.
Meanwhile, NACSUL said Lofa County District # 1 Representative, Francis Sakila Nyumalin, threats that there will be an interim arrangement to replace the Weah-led administration if Lofa County Senator-elect J. Brownie Samukai is not certificated by the National Elections Commission is counterproductive to the peace of the country.
NACSUL described the statement of a lawmaker backed by his colleague of Montserrado County, Representative Yekeh Kolubah, as conflict-sensitive and said this must be condemned by all well-meaning Liberians.
The group is however calling on the National Security Agency (NSA) to immediately invite the two lawmakers for questioning as no one is above the law adding that the issue of Mr. Samukai is legal than political and there are laws on the books that address punishments for convicted criminal therefore all must adhere to the laws and allow justice to take its course.
NACSUL also termed as barbaric and uncivilized, the recent arson attacks on the home of Associate Justice Joseph Nagbe and the compounds of the National Elections Commission in Monrovia and is calling on those unscrupulous individuals whether from the opposition or no position to desist from the throwing of petro-bombs at the homes of prominent individuals as well as strategic areas like the headquarters of the National Elections Commission.