By: Laymah Kollie
Grand Cape Mount County Senator Samuel Simeon has filled a Formal Complaint against the County Administration (Superintendents) and the County Council of Grand Cape Mount County for gross breach of Section 2.9 of the Local Government Act.
Senator Taylor argued that Section 2.9 of the Local Government Act provides for the Legislature to set the ceiling for honorarium received by members of the County Council every four (4) years, but has since been ignored by the Superintendent and other county officials.
“Hon President Pro-Tempore & Distinguished Colleagues, it will disgust you to note that the members of the County Administration and the County Council of Grand Cape Mount County willfully elected to ignore the said Section 2.9 of the Local Government Act and determined, drew-up, and approved an Honorarium Payment Scheme for themselves without informing the Legislature, let alone seeking their approval”, the communication explained.
Verbatim Section 2.9 of the Local Government Act entitled: RENUMERATION states
“County Council Members shall be paid an honorarium from the county budget. The Legislature shall set the ceiling for such honorarium every four (4) years”
In furtherance to legal background, Senator Taylor mentioned Count Six (6) of November 16, 2024, County Council Resolution of Grand Cape Mount County that speaks about allotment of payments to members of the County Administration and the County Council.
Count Six (6) reads: That Liberian Dollars Three Million Six Hundred Forty-Five Thousand Eight Hundred and Six Dollars Ninety-Four Cents (L$3,645,806.94), accounting for 10% of the total budget be used as administrative cost for both the County Administration and the County Council and shall equally be distributed.
“Given the premise above, you will agree with me that the act on the part of the County Administration and the County Council to derive a payment scheme for themselves as opposed to Section 2.9 of the Local Government Act which gives the Legislature the authority to draw-up or otherwise set a ceiling for such payments every four (4) years does not only amount to a flagrant violation of our laws, but same also constitutes total disrespect for the legislature”. Taylor said.
He stressed that it is a dangerous and harmful practice to see people who have been designated to perform tasks on behalf of the county engage in the wrongful use of the people’s money, which is an act that is the core reason for the underdeveloped state of the country.
Grand Cape Mount Senator is craving Plenary indulgence to summon authorities of the county to appear before Plenary of the Liberian Senate on the matter.
“In view of the above, I hereby entreat the Plenary of the Liberian Senate to summon the Minister of Local Government, Francis Nyumalin to appear before this body along with the County Administration and the County Council of Grand Cape Mount County to show why there exist such gross breach of the Local Government Act under his supervision without any action”.
However, the County leader pleaded with the Liberian Senate to forward members of the County Council to the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission for proper investigation after Senate inquiries.
“I want to implore the Senate Plenary to consider forwarding members of the County Administration and the County Council of Grand Cape Mount County to the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission for the process of conducting further probes in relation to the subject matter as is contained herein and take the necessary actions in line with the Laws of the Republic of Liberia.”
Meanwhile, in action to the complaint, Senate Plenary has cited the Superintendent of Grand Cape Mount and the County Council to appear before its body next week.
