By: Archie Boan
President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. has provided detailed justification for his recent decision to withhold approval from eleven (11) legislative bills passed by the National Legislature, citing noncompliance with the Local Government Act of 2018 and prevailing infrastructural and economic constraints.
In a formal communication addressed to House Speaker Hon. Richard Nagbe Koon, President Boakai clarified that the bills—which include nine (9) seeking the establishment of new townships in Nimba County and two (2) proposing the creation of new districts in Nimba and Lofa Counties do not meet the statutory requirements necessary for creating new local government structures.
Township Bills in Nimba County
The President explained that the nine township bills fail to satisfy the minimum benchmarks set forth under Section 2.16(e) of the Local Government Act of 2018. The law requires, among other things, that any proposed township must have:
• A minimum population of 5,000 residents;
• Functional waste management systems;
• Accessible primary and junior high school education;
• Health facilities;
• Sports and recreational areas;
• Designated cemetery grounds;
• Adequate transportation infrastructure; and
• Reliable business and communication services.
President Boakai emphasized that Liberia’s current infrastructural and economic realities make it difficult for many communities to meet these statutory standards. He further noted that the bills lack clearly defined geographical boundaries, a crucial legal prerequisite for establishing new political subdivisions.
District Creation Bills in Nimba and Lofa Counties
Regarding the two bills proposing the creation of new districts, the President pointed to Section 2.15 of the Local Government Act, which governs the formation of Sub-County Local Governments. He explained that the proposed districts did not specify whether they were to be statutory or administrative—an omission that makes their legal basis untenable.
The President reminded lawmakers that all existing statutory districts are set to be dissolved by November 23, 2025, as stipulated in Section 2.15(a) of the Act, which granted a seven-year transition period for the retirement of employees and the phasing out of statutory districts. Creating new ones now, he warned, would result in their automatic dissolution within just a few months of establishment, rendering the bills ineffective and impractical.
President Boakai reaffirmed his commitment to working collaboratively with the Legislature to ensure that all laws enacted align with Liberia’s governance framework and sustainable development agenda.
“My decision to withhold approval of these bills is guided not by politics but by a commitment to legality, efficiency, and responsible governance,” the President stated. “The creation of new local structures must be driven by readiness, compliance, and capacity not sentiment.”
He welcomed continued dialogue between the Executive and Legislative branches to find a constructive and constitutionally sound path forward, consistent with the principles of the Local Government Act of 2018 and the broader goals of national decentralization and development.
