Monrovia City Mayor John-Charuk Siafa’s appearance before the National Legislature for the budget hearing unfolded as a compelling plea for urgent action to address the dire financial crisis facing the Monrovia City Corporation (MCC).
Mayor Siafa’s impassioned address shed light on the crippling impact of drastic budget cuts on the city’s ability to manage its affairs effectively, particularly in waste management.
In his address, he underscored the pressing need for adequate fiscal support to ensure sustainable waste management practices in Monrovia.
The Mayor highlighted the significant reduction in direct government support for cleanliness initiatives, with the fiscal year 2024 budget witnessing a staggering decrease of USD$400,000 compared to the previous year, exacerbating the city’s waste management challenges.
Data collected by the MCC revealed alarming statistics, indicating a substantial funding shortfall for essential waste management activities.
To clean just 45% of Monrovia City, Mayor Siafa emphasized the urgent need for USD$2.8 million, a stark contrast to the inadequate financial provisions currently allocated.
Mayor Siafa also drew attention to the critical underfunding of the CLUS project, a vital initiative aimed at enhancing urban sanitation.
Despite an agreed-upon commitment of USD$1.5 million from the government, the allocated budget for the project plummeted to USD$500,000, jeopardizing its continuity and inviting potential closure by international funding agencies such as the World Bank.
The Mayor’s address painted a bleak picture of the MCC’s financial predicament, revealing a substantial deficit between the allocated budget and the funds required for effective city management.
With only USD$3,777,965 earmarked in the 2024 draft national budget, far below the MCC’s projected budget of USD$11,023,583, Mayor Siafa stressed the urgent need for additional financial support from the national government.
The proposed MCC budget for the fiscal year 2023 stood at USD$4,654,415, with a significant decrease of USD$3,777,965 projected for 2024, representing a 23% reduction.
The Monrovia City Mayor warned that without meeting the MCC’s entire budgetary requirements, the city would struggle to address its waste management challenges, posing serious repercussions for Monrovia’s residents and the nation as a whole.
In a call to action directed at lawmakers, Mayor Siafa urged for a just allocation of resources to enable the MCC to fulfill its mandate effectively, particularly in waste management.
Failure to address the city’s financial shortfall, he cautioned, would have grave implications for Monrovia’s cleanliness efforts and overall functionality, with far-reaching consequences for Liberia’s capital and its populace.
