BY: Barclay Karnley
MONROVIA: The Senate, the Upper House of the Legislature, through its Committee on Energy, Electricity and Carbon on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, conducted confirmation hearing for Board Chair of the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC), Cllr. Emmanuel Tulay, who has acted in the position for at least six months.
Cllr. Emmanuel Tulay was appointed by President Joseph Nyumah Boakai in February 2024 to replace Mr. Monie R. Captan who has served in duo capacity as Board Chair and Chief Executive Officer of the LEC.
The duo capacities of Mr. Captan, sparked public concern regarding the effectiveness of the entity.
Since the appointment of Cllr. Tulay as Board Chair of the LEC, there have been numerous concerns by some members of the Senate.
Some claim Cllr. Tulay refused to appear before the committee for confirmation hearing, prompting the Committee’s Chair, Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe, to write the Plenary of the Senate to demand Cllr. Tulay to appear for confirmation hearing before the committee.
Appearing on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, before the Senate Committee for confirmation hearing, Cllr. Tulay apologized to the committee for his failure not to attend confirmation hearing, citing provision of the 1978 Liberia Electricity law as reasons for his lack of cooperation with the Liberian Senate.
According to Cllr. Tulay the act establishing the LEC calls for the appointment of the LEC Board Chair by the President along with other members but rather do not call for the nomination of Board Chair that will be subjected to the Liberian Senate for final decision.
Cllr. Emmanuel Tulay further disclosed that he was given an appointment letter by President Joseph Nyumah Boakai to Chair the Board of the Liberia Electricity Corporation and was never nominated by the Liberian Leader to serve at the entity.
Some members of the Liberian Senate frown on the action of the LEC Board Chair for his alleged refusal to appear before the committee for confirmation hearing something they see as a complete disrespect to that august body.
Meanwhile, the Senate Committee on Electricity, Energy and Carbon through its Chairman Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe has mandated the LEC Board Chair, Cllr. Emmanuel Tulay, to formally write a communication in not more than two days, retracting his first letter to the committee as a defense for his refusal not to appear for confirmation hearing.
The Legislature is expected to close today, Thursday, September 19, 2024, after the completion of their three weeks extra setting.
The extra sitting led to the passage of major legislations and the confirmation of nominated government officials. As part of its working during the extra sitting, the National Legislature is also expected to pass the controversial 2024 recast budget on today, before the closure of the Legislature.
