MONROVIA, LIBERIA — Speaker of the House of Representatives Richard Nagbe Koon has called for Liberia’s historic US$1 billion domestic revenue collection to be translated into tangible improvements for citizens.
Liberia recently surpassed the US$1 billion domestic revenue mark for the first time in its history, with government officials describing the achievement as a major milestone in domestic resource mobilization.
In a statement, Speaker Koon commended President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, the Liberia Revenue Authority, the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, taxpayers, businesses and Liberians for the achievement.
Koon said the milestone demonstrates Liberia’s growing capacity to finance its own development, while emphasizing that the Legislature has a responsibility to ensure public resources are used transparently and responsibly.
“A billion dollars raised is a billion dollars entrusted. Let us ensure every dollar works for Liberia,” Koon wrote.
His remarks come amid renewed public debate over lawmakers’ compensation. A proposal to cap legislative remuneration at US$5,000 monthly has been under discussion, although Liberia does not currently publish an official itemized payroll showing the total compensation of each lawmaker.
The question now being raised publicly is whether lawmakers will support comparable sacrifices in their own compensation as they demand accountability in the use of public funds.
