By Grace Q. Bryant
A group of minority lawmakers under the banner of the Rule of Law Legislative Caucus initially aligned with embattled Speaker J. Fonati Koffa, has announced their decision to return to session on January 13, 2025.
The move comes amid ongoing disputes over the legitimacy of Koffa’s leadership, which has left the Legislature divided and stalled in its legislative activities.
At a press conference held on Tuesday, January 7, the head of the Rule of Law Legislative Caucus, Representative Musa Bility, explained the group’s position, asserting that they had waited for the Supreme Court to resolve the legal ambiguity regarding Koffa’s election.
However, with no clear resolution forthcoming, the lawmakers felt compelled to take action on their own to continue representing the interests of the Liberian people.
Bility outlined their objectives, noting that their primary aim was to resolve ongoing disputes through what he describes as “legislative engagement,” highlighting key issues they planned to address.
“The action of continued suspension and withholding of salaries for our colleagues, which violates our internal rules, is another pressing issue. Additionally, the dissolution and reconstitution of legislative committees, which were carried out in defiance of established protocols, is deeply concerning,” he said.
Bility also criticized the refusal to release benefits owed to members of their caucus, pointing to the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), which had already fully remitted funds into the account of the House of Representatives. Despite this, those funds have not been disbursed to the affected lawmakers.
“We remain committed to upholding the rule of law. This includes taking further appropriate legal actions, alongside seeking legislative resolutions to address these violations on the floor of the House of Representatives.”Bility continued.
The caucus members have meanwhile, emphasized their ongoing commitment to both legal action and legislative reforms, noting that they would continue to pursue avenues to resolve the leadership crisis through both legal channels and parliamentary processes.
