Budget Hearing Postponed

By Jackson C. Clay, Jr.

The joint committee on ways, Means Finance and Budget of the legislature has postponed the ongoing budget hearing following a request made by the Minister of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), Samuel Tweah.

The postponement of the hearing was triggered by a request made to that body on grounds that the cabinet would be attending a two-day cabinet retreat slated for Thursday and Friday, May 17 and 18, 2018.

According to a release from the Press Bureau of the House of Representatives, the committee granted the request from the Minister and thereby postponed the hearing process to Monday, May 21, 2018.

The release indicated that this retreat which would be held in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County would bring together all ministers and heads of various government ministers and agencies, a situation which would not allow them to appear before the committee to defend their various budget.

Recently, President George Weah submitted to the Legislature the proposed budget in the tone of US$562.2 million targeting the government’s projection for revenue and expenditure for fiscal year 2018/2019.

Constitutionally, after review of the Budget, the two Houses will separately approve the 2018/2019 Budget, with the signatures of Chief Clerk Mildred Sayon, and Speaker Bhofal Chambers as well as the signatures of the secretary of the Senate and the Vice President.

Meanwhile, the President would be the last to sign into law draft 2018/2019 budget but will become a law when printed into handbills by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.