By Rufus Divine Brooks Jr
MONROVIA, Liberia – Former Gbarpolu County Senator and one-time President Pro-Tempore of the Liberian Senate, Armah Zulu Jallah, has sharply criticized the proposed 2026 National Budget, describing it as a reflection of the government’s “lack of preparedness and capacity” to drive genuine national development.
Speaking Thursday on the Kear Morning Show in Monrovia, Jallah argued that the draft budget is heavily weighted toward recurrent expenditures, leaving critical infrastructure and investment projects grossly underfunded.
“The budget is disproportionately weighted toward recurrent expenditures,” Jallah stated, “starving essential infrastructure and investment programs of necessary funding.”
The 2026 draft national budget, which has been submitted to the Legislature for review, is valued at US$1.2 billion—the largest in Liberia’s history.
Jallah called on lawmakers to take decisive corrective measures, recommending an immediate freeze on recurrent expenditures at their existing levels and a reversal of recent increases allocated to various government agencies. He proposed that the redirected funds be invested into the Public Sector Investment Program (PSIP) to tackle the nation’s most pressing development priorities.
He cited Liberia’s dilapidated road networks and persistent electricity deficits as urgent areas requiring focused investment.
“The government must adopt a delivery-focused and targeted approach to energy generation for industrialization,” Jallah emphasized, urging policymakers to prioritize sectors where Liberia holds a comparative advantage.
While acknowledging progress made by President Joseph Boakai’s administration in certain sectors, Jallah said several areas remain “significantly challenged” and require immediate and strategic intervention.
On the issue of corruption, the former Senate leader encouraged the public to remain patient and supportive of ongoing anti-graft efforts. He particularly appealed for a six-month grace period to diligently execute its mandate of investigating and retrieving misappropriated state assets.
