But Says Anybody Giving Money “Will Be Doing So At Their Own Risks”
Adds That Confirmation Are Based On Qualification Without The Payment Of Cash To Any Senator”
By Our Staff Writer
The issue of solicitation of ‘flexibility fees’ for confirmation of presidential nominee has raising its ugly head again within the corridor of the Liberian Senate, with authorities at the upper House denying it exists in the 54th Legislature, but they say anybody giving money “will be doing so at their own risks”.
“THIS IS TO ANNOUNCE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT, IT HAS CLAIMED THE ATTENTION OF THE LIBERIAN SENATE THAT CERTAIN UNSCRUPOLUS INDIVIDUALS ARE IN THE HABIT OF USING THE NAMES OF SENATORS TO SOLICIT FUNDS FROM NOMINEES UNDER THE PRETENSE OF NEGOTIATING FOR THEIR CONFIRMATION HEARINGS,” says a brief statement from the Senate dated February 29, 2024.
The statement came in the wake of reports in the local media that some members of the Senate were requesting money from presidential nominees, in order to ensure easy path through the confirmation process.
During the immediate past CDC government, some top officials of the regime starting with its first Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, it was widely reported that huge cash was taken in exchange for jobs not only by officials at the Executive Mansion but withing the former ruling party hierarchy. But they never publicly acknowledged that such were happening.
Senate President Pro Tempore, Sen. Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence
Cash and gifts for jobs, favourable consideration of allotments and passage of concession agreements as well as other Bills going through the Legislature over the years have been a norm.
So, when information and speculations emerged that this practice has continued in the new regime, it gained traction.
In its statement, the Senate under the administrative leadership of Grand Bassa County Senator Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence, who is a leader ally in President Joe Boakai’s Unity Party Alliance said:
“THE SENATE SAYS, AT NO TIME HAS ANY SENATOR SOLICIT FUNDS FROM ANY NOMINEE FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONFIRMATION AND WILL NEVER DO SUCH.
ALL CONFIRMATIONS BY THE LIBERIAN SENATE ARE ON THE BASES OF THE QUALIFICATIONS AND SUITABILITIES OF NOMINEES WITHOUT THE PAYMENT OF CASH TO ANY SENATOR,” the Senate statement says.
The National Code of Conduct Act forbids bribery in any shape or form. And in the definition of bribery, both the giver and taker of the act are culprits under Liberian law.
But in its statement, the Senate warned alleged givers or potential givers of money to get favourble vetting by Senators that if they do, it will be “at their own risks”.
“THEREFORE, ANY NOMINEE GIVING MONEY TO ANYBODY FOR THE PURPOSE OF THEIR CONFIRMATIONS WILL BE DOING SO AT THEIR OWN RISKS.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS SIGNED BY ALFRED Z, JOHNSON, AND DIRECTOR OF PRESS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT OF THE LIBERIAN SENATE ON BEHALF OF THE LIBERIAN SENATE.”