In a cabinet meeting held in Monrovia this afternoon, Liberian President Joseph Boakai made a resounding call for the national budget to prioritize the interests and needs of the people.
The President said, “The National Budget is for public welfare. It is not an easy thing to share money all over. But this year, we want to make the budget to be the people’s budget. The budget has to show on the people. So, the budget must be much more inclusive this time.”
In recent days, Liberian activist in exile Martin K. N. Kollie has been releasing multiple budget analyses and critiques aimed at advocating for a radical shift in the national budget, which he claims has largely benefited a few politicians and not the people.
Kollie has been calling for a radical transition from a pro-politician consumption-based budget to a pro-people production-based budget, with an emphasis on job creation and wealth creation through manufacturing, profitable private sector ventures, and human capital development.
“The people need jobs. They are suffering. They poor. Factories need to be built across Liberia to produce what we consume, add value to our raw materials, create jobs and new markets that lead to sustained economic stability, increase government revenue, and reduce dependency on imports,” Kollie said, while claiming that more money in the past and current budgets has gone toward things that consume rather than things that produce.
Kollie proposed that the salaries and benefits of senior public officials, including lawmakers, ministers, etc., be capped at US$5,000, while all civil servants, including public school teachers, health workers, security personnel, and office and administrative staff across public entities, be increased to at least US$500 a month.
He has admonished Pres. Boakai to recall the 2027 draft budget and readjust it in line with the people’s interests. The Liberian activist has been a consistent voice against public waste and fiscal indiscipline amid high unemployment and hardship in Liberia.
