By Linus Flomo/BASSA
Grand Bassa County Superintendent Karyou Johnson, on Wednesday convened a roundtable discussion with heads and deputies from nearly 15 government institutions stationed at the County Service Center.
The meeting, held at the Service Center in Buchanan, was aimed at gathering feedbacks on the performance and operational realities of local government institutions.
Superintendent Johnson said the engagement is part of a broader effort to improve decision-making, monitoring, and transformation of government services under the leadership of President Joseph Boakai.
During the session, Mac Wilis, Coordinator of the County Service Center, presented an overview of achievements and lingering challenges. He cited critical issues such as leaking buildings, lack of internet access, and inadequate administrative resources including computers and basic tools.
Despite these setbacks, County Budget Officer Josiah Logan disclosed that the 2025 National Budget has made provisions to address many of the Center’s pressing needs.
He expressed optimism that the allocations would improve conditions and operational efficiency.
Superintendent Johnson welcomed the budgetary support and instructed that a detailed plan be drafted to incorporate building renovations, internet connectivity, and essential logistics into the current fiscal year’s financial framework.
He reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring the success of the government’s decentralization agenda.
In addition to infrastructure concerns, Johnson expressed concern about voluntary workers who have been serving at the Center for extended periods without formal employment status.
He indicated ongoing efforts to transition these workers onto the civil service payroll in accordance with national policy.
The Superintendent also stressed the need for all agencies to prepare for the forthcoming implementation of the Revenue Sharing Act, which seeks to distribute government revenue through a 60:40 split between national and local governments.
The law is expected to bolster local services, improve facility maintenance, and enhance legal revenue generation.
Officials from key ministries and agencies, including Health, Education, Gender, Internal Affairs, Public Works, Commerce, LISGIS, the Liberia Revenue Authority, and the Internal Audit Agency, participated in the high-level dialogue.
