-“House did the right thing” as 53rd Legislature adjourns
By our Reporter
Outgoing House Speaker Emmanuel Nuquay has said the 53rd Legislature did not act on any of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s 13 Bills submitted to them because it would have been inappropriate at this time of transition, little over a week before the inauguration of the newly elected Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) government
Sirleaf’s attempt to have over a dozen Bills go through the outgoing Legislature by this weekend hit a major snag on Thursday, with the Extra Ordinary Session of the House of Representatives adjourning without any of her 13 4G Bills being passed.
Nuquay told Journalistss that the President-elect George Weah and his CDC were concerned about having such new Bills acted upon and want them tabled for the incoming 54th Legislature to handle them.
“When we are in transition, this is not the time to pass new bills that will have far-reaching implications on the people,” the outgoing Speaker said.
Besides, the outgoing House Speaker said the time was too short for the lawmakers to scrutinize the over dozen proposed Acts.
The 53rd Liberian Legislature adjourned on Thursday January 11, 2018 with all proposed Legislation, bills and protocols for ratification deferred to the 54th Legislature.
The move by the lawmakers is seen as a defeat for outgoing President Sirleaf’s resolve to push her Legislative agenda even to the dying minutes of her administration, as she purposely requested the extension of the Legislative by nine days mainly to push through the 13 Bills, which she considers as pertinent.
But the lawmakers insist that government is one of continuity and that the next Legislature can vet the Bills and act upon them in the best interest of the Liberian people,
Among the Bills the outgoing Liberian leader wanted to pass include the Bill to ratify an over US$40 million Dangote Cement factory by the Nigerian billionaire and the concession agreement for the extension of the Firestone rubber plantation.
Outgoing Speaker Emmanuel Nuquay served as running mate to current Vice President Joseph Boakai, who lost the December 26, 2017 presidential runoff election to Senator George Weah of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC).
He vowed to remain in Liberia and promised to support the new CDC-led government.
Nuquay and members of the 53rd Legislature will next Monday, January 15 hand over to the incoming 54th Legislature, according to the Spokesman of the House.