By Verity News Editorial Board
I) Introduction:
In accordance with Article 32(b) of the 1986 Constitution of Liberia, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai through a formal communication recalled the 55th National Legislature to convene for a 10-day special session from Thursday, April 9, 2026 to Thursday, April 23, 2026, after it adjourned the First Quarter of the Third Session on March 19, 2026.
One major reason why 103 Legislators were recalled from break to convene on Capitol Hill is to review, debate, and pass the 2026 Supplementary Budget.
II) What does Supplementary Budget mean?
The 2009 Public Financial Management Law of Liberia, as amended and restated in 2019, defines Supplementary Budget as an amendment to the Approved National Budget intended to adjust for unforeseen changes in revenue or expenditure as reflected in Section 23 of the PFM Law.
III) What can change in the Supplementary Budget and how?
1) An analysis of revenue collections and expenditure performances is provided.
2) Based on how revenue and expenditure performed (e.g, surplus: more revenue than expenditure; deficit: less revenue than expenditure; or balanced: revenue equals to expenditure), changes to the originally Approved 2026 National Budget are made either through reallocation/redistribution (upward change this time around).
3) The latest Supplementary Buget submitted by President Boakai intends to increase the approved 2026 national budget from US$1.2497 billion to US$1.2947 billion. What does this mean? 1.2947 billion minus 1.2947 billion. This is a 0.045 billion or US$45 million increment. This means that the government got additional US$45 million to add up, which seems to suggest a good/postive budgetary performance in the first quarter of FY2026.
3) So, the US$45 million Supplementary Budget that has been submitted could be reallocated or redistributed based on government priorities in terms of ranking (e.g., the $45 million could be added to higher priority budget lines). Certain budget lines/areas could be affected/changed upwards within the US$1.2 billion Budget. It’s also possible that certain lines could also be affected downwards
IV) What specific law backs this decision?
Section 23 of the 2009 PFM Law as Amended and Restated in 2019 and approved October 22, 2019: Supplementary Budgets and Mid-Year Review
“1. During the fiscal year, the Approved Budget may be amended through supplementary budgets to be approved by the Legislature.
2. The preparation, approval and execution of a supplementary budget is governed by the same rules applicable to the approval and execution of the National Budget as specified in this Act.
3. The Minister shall submit to the Legislature a mid-fiscal year review of the implementation of the Budget in the middle of February each year, including an analysis of the revenue collections and expenditure performances in the first six months of the fiscal year, and, if necessary, a proposed supplementary budget for approval by the Legislature.”
