MONROVIA: “This is not fair, Mr. President – The Country is DIRT POOR but five of you are receiving over US$10.6 million in 12 months.”
The above were the recent assertions of rights activist, and key supporter of incumbent President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Martin Kollie.
He made the comments just few days after the Executive Branch of Government, headed by President Boakai, submitted the 2025 National Budget to the controversial ‘Majority Bloc,’ whose members in the House of Representatives are fighting to ‘dethrone’ Cllr. Jonathan Fonati Koffa from the Speaker post of the 55th Legislature.
President Boakai submitted the National Budget under questionable circumstances to the ‘majority bloc’, sidelining Speaker Koffa who is still considered, in many quarters of the country as the legitimate Speaker.
Koffa challenged his removal, calling it “unlawful,” and without any due process as requires by the 1986 Liberian Constitution.
“Straight up. This is not fair. The national cake (2025 Budget) is not being equitably distributed. The imbalances are crystal clear as millions of our people struggle to survive. We expected something better than this in Year 2,” added Kollie in a Writeup.
He disclosed that the Draft National Budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 has 556 pages.
Kollie: “The Liberian people can be assured that we will x-ray every page to protect their interests.”
The activist began his analysis with what he calls “The Big Five” or “The Five Highest Offices”.
He explained that “the big five” is above US$10.6 million again amid heightened unemployment, poverty, food insecurity, aid dependency, health and education.
Kollie: “Where is public interest? When will this change? This is what they have in just 12 months for FY2025”:
Surprisingly, in the draft national budget for 2025, President Joseph Boakai would receive (US$3,442,406); Vice President Jeremiah Koung (US$3,759,152); Jonathan Koffa (US$1,755,553); Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence, Senate Pro-tempore, (US$1,024,136); and Thomas Fallah (US$645,817).
Vice President Koung is topping President Boakai with US$316,746, which is strange in Liberian governance system for the Vice President with less responsibilities to top the President with more foreign engagements and projects.
The total for these 5 offices amounts to US$10,627,064.
However, Martin Kollie added that the 12-month budget of President Boakai for FY2025 is up from US$1.9 million to US$3.4 million.
This accounts for a 43% increment or a US$1.5 million increase.
The annual budget of Vice President Jeremiah Koung for FY2025 did not rarely change. It was US$3.7 million in 2024 and it is still US$3.7 million in 2025, although it tops the President’s budget.
The budget of Speaker J. Fonati Koffa for FY2025 is up from US$1.5 million to US$1.7 million. This increment accounts for 12% or US$211,000.
For the budget of Senate Pro-Temp, Madam Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence for FY2025 is down from US$1.4 million to US$1.2 million. This reduction accounts for 27.9% or US$395,000.
The budget of Deputy Speaker, Thomas Fallah, for FY2025 is down from US$1.2 million to US$645,817 constituting a sharp reduction of 49.8% or US$640,000.
Meanwhile, Martin Kollie further vowed to do a “comprehensive analysis of all sectors with emphasis on strategic revenue-generating and spending entities.”
“The waste is too much. We have to cut down on public waste. It is this waste that’s driving disparity and inequality in Liberia. It has to change. We have to get our arts together. We have to do it differently,” Kollie declared.
The people were promised to be “RESCUED”. Public service is about PEOPLE and not PROFIT.
However, activist Kollie has called on President Boakai to cut down on public waste (recurrent expenses) and divert or invest savings to/in capital projects/PPSI to empower and improve millions of lives.
“Lest we forget that Liberia is the 8th poorest country in the world after 177 years of existence as a sovereign state even though we have huge deposits of gold, diamond, iron ores, rubber, oil, timber, arable land, palm, forest reserves, etc.
“For God’s sake, the Liberian people are suffering. These monies being lavishly spent belong to them (The People) and not anyone’s private company.
“Why can’t we spend it on them to improve their lives? They deserve better too. They deserve a life of dignity and self-worth too.”
