The Independent Information Commissioner (IIC), Hon. Joash T. Hodges, has formally appealed to Speaker of the House, Hon. Richard Nagbe Koon, for a significant increase in the Commission’s budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026.
In a communication addressed to Speaker Koon, Hon. Hodges highlighted the institutional and operational gaps currently hampering the IIC’s ability to fulfill its mandates under Liberia’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID), the Performance Management and Compliance System, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 16, 10, and 20), as well as the IIC’s FY 2026 Budget and Five-Year Strategic Plan.
The Commissioner pointed out that despite the IIC’s critical role as a cornerstone for government transparency, it remains the least funded institution within Liberia’s Transparency and Accountability Sector. According to Hon. Hodges, the Commission was allocated just US$341,592, representing less than 0.993% of the total sector budget of US$34,415,342 earmarked for twelve institutions.
“This allocation places the IIC in an impossible and unrealistic position to implement its 2026 budget objectives and institutional commitments,” Hon. Hodges noted in the correspondence.
Since its establishment in 2012, the IIC has faced chronic administrative and operational challenges due to limited funding and staffing. The Commissioner referenced a recent Governance Commission institutional and operational capacity assessment report recommending the hiring of 74 additional staff, excluding presidential appointees, to fully operationalize the Commission and enhance public service delivery.
In light of these findings, Hon. Hodges requested an additional US$427,994 to address the pressing issues hindering the Commission’s effective functioning.
