Margibi County — The Margibi University Students Union (MARUSU) has publicly stated its opposition to any attempt by a single lawmaker to control scholarship funds provided by China Union, amid an ongoing dispute between the Margibi County District #4 Representative Emmanuel Yarh and local county authorities.
In a press statement released Friday, MARUSU said it was closely monitoring the controversy surrounding the administration of the China Union General Education Scholarship, which is intended to benefit students from concession-affected communities in Margibi County.
While commending the district representative for advocating to ensure China Union meets its scholarship obligations, MARUSU warned against what it described as the politicization of educational funds.
“The scholarship funding should not be controlled by any single lawmaker,” the union stated, adding that the funds should instead be deposited into a recognized county account under the authority of the local government.
According to MARUSU, allowing a district representative to establish or dominate a scholarship committee creates undue political influence and undermines transparency, fairness, and inclusivity. The union emphasized that scholarships must serve students across the entire concession-affected communities rather than advancing narrow political or electoral interests.
Citing the Local Government Act of 2018, MARUSU resolved that the Margibi County Superintendent, as head of the local government, should preside over the coordination and administration of the scholarship program. The union called for collaboration with recognized stakeholders, including student unions and civil society organizations.
MARUSU further stressed that the role of lawmakers should remain legislative and advocacy-based, not administrative or custodial, and that scholarship committees must be independent, inclusive, and transparent. It also warned against placing funds in accounts or committees where statutory local government officials, such as commissioners, are not signatories, describing such arrangements as violations of accountability and decentralization principles.
Beyond the scholarship dispute, MARUSU urged lawmakers to broaden their educational advocacy.
The union called on China Union to fulfill its obligations under Section 11.3(b) of its concession agreement by establishing and supporting Mining and Geology Institutes. It recommended that funds for such institutions be deposited directly into the accounts of the University of Liberia or other accredited public higher education institutions to ensure sustainability and academic integrity.
The union also advocated for increased support for graduate training and international exchange programs for students from concession-affected communities.
Reaffirming its commitment to transparency, accountability, and equitable access to education, MARUSU described scholarship funds derived from concession agreements as public resources meant to uplift affected communities.
“Education must never be politicized. Development must never be personalized. The law must always prevail,” the statement concluded, as the union called on lawmakers, local government officials, concessionaires, and civil society to prioritize the educational future of Margibi County students.
