By Bill W. Cooper
Margibi County Senator, Nathaniel McGill, has raised serious allegations against members of the 54th National Legislature, precisely the Liberian Senate, accusing them of contributing to the “failure” of the out-going Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) government.
The country’s former Minister of State for Presidential Affairs said it was as a result of the Senate’s refusal to effectively carry out its oversight responsibilities, ensuring that government ministers were properly scrutinized and checkmated.
The outgoing CDC was defeated in a tightly contested presidential election by incoming President, Joseph Boakai of the Unity Party (UP) in November of 2023. McGill, prior to his election as senator, was also sanctioned by the United States Government for corruption and abuse of public funds.
Speaking for the first time in his capacity as a senator for the first time yesterday, McGill expressed his concerns regarding the inadequacy of the Senate in fulfilling its duty to provide oversight and hold the government accountable for its actions.
Senator McGill disclosed that said missteps by his colleagues also had a detrimental impact on the governance and development of the country.
The Margibi County lawmaker pointed out that the lack of effective oversight allowed the government to operate without sufficient scrutiny, potentially leading to detrimental consequences for the nation and its citizens.
However, some lawmakers of the 54th National Legislature, especially Sen. Wellington Geevon Smith, were quick to checkmate the assertions of their new colleague, claiming that the 54th legislature diligently carried out their oversight responsibilities and have actively held the ruling government accountable.
Sen. Smith highlighted instances where the Senator in the 54th legislature intervened and questioned government decisions and demonstrated their commitment to performing their tasks, including providing oversight of government’s activities, but were on many occasions being described as “Enemy of the State” by some ministers, including him (McGill).
Despite the senators’ rebuttal, Sen. McGill was steadfast in his criticisms, underscoring the need for a more proactive and rigorous approach to oversight during this 55th Legislature, ensuring not to repeat the past.
He further called on his colleagues to ensure a thorough review of the Senate’s performance and its efficacy in fulfilling its role as a check on the Executive branch, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a robust system of checks and balances within Liberia’s democratic framework.
According to him, once that is done, he foresees a functioning government and a transparent and accountable government under the leadership of President-elect, Joseph Boakai, which, he said, campaigned on the slogan of “Rescue Mission”.
He added, “So, Madam Pro-Temp and colleagues, some of us are from the opposition and we will be robust in holding this administration accountable, but we will do it in the spirit of coordination and the performance of our responsibilities as senators.”
Commenting on his plans for the year 2024, Sen. McGill further pledged to work collaboratively with his colleagues, ensuring that Margibi County benefits from the UP’s developmental agenda.
