Liberia-As the National Legislature continues to reel from and grapple with image-damaging alterations done to the approved budget for fiscal year 2024, House Speaker Jonathan Fornati Koffa is thinking outside the box, initiating measures intended to avoid and avert any future encroachment on approved budgets.
The Speaker’s action is seen as a fundamentally significant move geared towards enhancing and improving fiscal accountability at the First Branch of Government, which is now embroiled in a situation that impugns on its integrity and the wellbeing of the state, mainly the current government that came to power on account of “not doing business as usual.”
Among series of administrative measures introduced in relation to budget transmittal process to the President include a formal cover letter, which will be personally signed by him, thus underscoring the importance of personal accountability in the management of the country’s resources.
As part of the measures, the Chief Clerk’s office, in addition, has been instructed to set up a comprehensive record-keeping system designed to efficiently track all related documents.
According to the Speaker, the system will document critical information, including the individuals responsible for checking documents in and out, thereby enhancing overall transparency.
Speaker Koffa’s measures have also include limiting access to document retrieval by the records custodian within the Chief Clerk’s office, thereby tightening control over important fiscal documents.
He has also tasked the Rules, Order, and Administration Committee with providing necessary resources and infrastructure improvements for the Chief Clerk’s office.
However, in an effort refine the efficiency of the budget process, the House of Representatives has also established two subcommittees under the Ways, Means, Finance, and Development Planning Committee.
