Lofa County Senator Momo Cyrus says Lawmakers often receive bribes to ratify concession agreements. “Most of the agreements that are ratified, Legislators get kickbacks,” Sen. Cyrus said.
Speaking on VOL 104.1 FM, Senator Cyrus alleged that financial benefits are often exchanged in connection with concession agreements presented to the Legislature for ratification.
“Most of the agreements that are ratified, legislators get kickbacks. People get kickbacks. Let’s be brutally honest. This is the fact,” Cyrus declared.
The senator described the Legislature as one of Liberia’s major governance challenges, accusing some lawmakers of prioritizing personal interests over national development.
“Our major problem today in Liberia is the Legislature. We are the problem. The decisions we take are not patriotic. It’s about what do I get in it for myself,” he said.
Cyrus further questioned the national benefits of concession agreements approved by lawmakers, challenging his colleagues to identify deals that genuinely serve Liberia’s interests.
“Which one of these concession agreements is in the interest of Liberia? Tell me, which one? All of these agreements were ratified by the Legislature,” he added.
The Lofa County lawmaker also criticized what he described as self-centered and self-aggrandizing conduct among legislators, suggesting that personal financial interests have influenced decisions involving the country’s natural resources.
He questioned whether lawmakers who have completed their legislative tenures have made meaningful contributions to national development, challenging them to reflect on their public service and the legacy they leave behind.
“How much money will you take to your grave?” Cyrus asked, while criticizing lawmakers whom he believes have benefited personally from legislative decisions.
His comments have brought renewed attention to the integrity of concession negotiations and the Legislature’s constitutional responsibility to scrutinize agreements before granting approval.
However, the senator did not identify specific lawmakers, companies, concession agreements, or transactions to substantiate the alleged kickbacks during the radio appearance.
The allegations have also not been independently verified, and the Legislature’s leadership had not publicly responded to the claims at the time of this report.
The controversy raises broader questions about how concession agreements are negotiated, who benefits from their ratification, and what safeguards exist to prevent conflicts of interest and corruption in Liberia’s public institutions.
