Published: June 25, 2025
MONROVIA, Liberia — Four of Liberia’s leading civil society organizations (CSOs) have issued a stern warning to the National Legislature, urging lawmakers to withdraw a controversial bill that seeks to amend key provisions of the Local Government Act (LGA) of 2018.
The CSOs — Naymote Partners for Democratic Development, the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL), the Women NGO Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL), and the Center for Democratic Governance (CDG) — argue that the proposed changes would reverse hard-fought gains in decentralization and citizen participation.
The joint statement was delivered Tuesday in Monrovia by Anderson D. Miamen, executive director of CENTAL, on behalf of the group.
Proposed Amendments Spark Civil Society Outcry
The organizations expressed deep concern over a bill introduced by Grand Gedeh County District 1 Representative Jeremiah Sokan, which seeks to amend Sections 2.2(e) and 2.2(f) of the LGA.
Those provisions currently grant County Councils the authority to approve annual county budgets and development plans — a power Sokan argues undermines the Legislature’s oversight responsibilities.
“The progenitor of the bill, Hon. Jeremiah Sokan, argues that these sections interfere with legislative oversight powers and must be repealed,” the CSOs noted in their statement.
The proposed bill has been forwarded to the House Committees on Good Governance, Ways, Means and Finance, Internal Affairs, and Judiciary for review.
CSOs: Legislative Caucuses Cannot Replace County Councils
The CSOs acknowledged that some County Council members may lack the technical expertise to analyze budgets in depth. However, they maintained that reinstating legislative caucuses as decision-makers over local development is not the solution.
They reminded lawmakers that counties are already tied to national government structures, as all funds for local development — including County Social Development Funds (CSDF) — are embedded within the national budget, which is subject to legislative approval.
“The budget, as approved by the Legislature, also contains specific policy statements on revenue-sharing formulas with the counties,” the statement noted.
The CSOs argued that previous legislative control over county development led to incomplete, poor-quality, and politically motivated projects that primarily served the interests of individual lawmakers.
“In fact, there is no legal basis for such powers. Legislative caucuses ought to be understood as associations of lawmakers with shared identity or interests — not as governing authorities,” they emphasized.
Women’s Participation and Community Voices at Risk
The organizations also warned that the proposed amendments would erode women’s leadership and community voice in governance.
“The County Council provides a unique platform for women’s participation, which should be strengthened, not rolled back,” the statement read. “Women often have the most insight into community development needs — especially in areas like health, education, and social protection.”
They argued that dismantling the Council structure would reverse years of advocacy aimed at creating inclusive spaces for women and marginalized groups in decision-making.
History of Legislative Overreach in Local Development
The CSOs cited the period from 2006 — when former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf introduced the CSDF — through 2022, when the Supreme Court ruled against legislative control of county development funds. During this time, lawmakers allegedly exercised disproportionate influence under the guise of citizen engagement.
According to the CSOs, citizens were often used to legitimize pre-determined legislative decisions, resulting in politically driven and poorly executed projects.
A Better Path: Capacity Building and Accountability
Rather than amending the LGA, the CSOs urged lawmakers to focus on strengthening the law’s implementation through capacity building, accountability mechanisms, and public engagement.
They acknowledged that some County Council members may be vulnerable to manipulation due to limited resources or education. However, they rejected the notion that lawmakers should assume control as a corrective measure.
“Citizens, acting independently or through stakeholder groups, must hold their representatives on the Council accountable — and remove them if necessary, using the mechanisms provided in the LGA,” they suggested.
They stressed that public education and civic awareness are essential to empowering communities to monitor and evaluate their leaders effectively.
CSOs Demand Withdrawal of Bill, Full LGA Implementation
The four organizations concluded by calling for the complete withdrawal of the proposed amendment and full implementation of the LGA.
“Attention must be placed on the full implementation of the law, including capacity-building initiatives and broad-based citizen engagement,” the statement read. “Anything to the contrary would render the LGA meaningless, frustrate years of work on decentralization, and reverse the progress already made.”
The CSOs warned that giving lawmakers direct control over county budgets and development planning would reintroduce centralized control, increase political interference, and alienate communities from the development process.
“It could weaken transparency, sideline local voices, and reduce the ability of average Liberians — especially in rural communities — to influence how development funds are allocated,” they warned.
From a gender perspective, the CSOs said, altering the structure would dismantle hard-won spaces for women’s leadership and grassroots participation.
“We, therefore, call for the withdrawal of the bill and for energies and resources to be redirected toward supporting effective and efficient local governance structures across the country,” they concluded.
The statement was signed by Anderson D. Miamen (CENTAL), Eddie Jarwolo (Naymote), Esther Yango (WONGOSOL), and George Sagbeh (CDG).
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