InfoQuest Liberia has termed as a monumental step taken by the President and Government of Liberia, in adopting and endorsing the long-anticipated Revenue Sharing Regulations.
The decision was taken on September 13, 2024 at the grounds of the Executive Mansion following the end of a special cabinet meeting.
Speaking to reports , the Acting Executive Director of InfoQuest Liberia, Ezekiel Allen, said InfoQuest views such groundbreaking decision as one that solidifies Liberia’s unwavering commitment to decentralization and local governance, thus marking a historic achievement for Liberia.
“We see the passage of the Revenue Sharing Regulations into law as one that signifies a new dawn in the equitable distribution of revenues generated at the local level between local governments and the central government,” he further emphasized.
He told the media that as part of InfoQuest’s efforts to such national campaign, his organization deeply invested in promoting governance and development and as such, celebrates such momentous accomplishment, which has the potential to transform the economic and developmental landscape of Liberia.
According to him, the success story did not unfold overnight. With the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), InfoQuest has been at the forefront championing the advocacy for the passage of the Local Government Act and the approval of the Revenue Sharing Regulations.
The achievement, Mr. Allen stated, is one of these goals and it is a testament to the collective efforts of civil society, international partners, and the Government of Liberia.
He stressed that their relentless work on behalf of the Liberian people in ensuring that decentralization becomes a living reality has also culminated into a law that will foster financial empowerment and accountability at the local level.
“Among other key importance of this national instruction and decision taken by the Government is that, for the first time in the nation’s history, local governments will now have the autonomy to receive and manage a fair share of revenues generated within their jurisdictions, thereby accelerating local development and improving service delivery to the people,” he added.
He used the occasion to also extend appreciation to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai whose leadership and vision have made this possible.
“We believe that his endorsement of the Revenue Sharing Regulations is a powerful statement of commitment to decentralization, local governance, and the economic empowerment of counties and municipalities and we also commend the President for recognizing that the full implementation of these regulations will not only foster national cohesion but also ensure that all parts of Liberia enjoy the benefits of growth and development,” he reechoed.
The Acting Executive Director of InQuest registered that while the adoption is a major leap forward, He also underscore and remind the government of the critical need for the full implementation of all provisions outlined in the regulations.
As part of said implementation, he called on the government to see as imperative the full establishment of County Treasuries in each county especially with trained personnel in place to ensure proper financial management, transparency, and accountability.
At the same time, he indicated that these requisite institutional frameworks such as the Local Government Fiscal Board be fully operational, and robust mechanisms for data collection must be established to guide the fair and accurate distribution of both natural and non-natural resource revenues.
Additionally, he encouraged National Government to make as top priority, the capacity-building efforts for local government officials to ensure that county administrations are well-prepared to manage and disburse funds effectively.
“We assure the Government that we at InfoQuest stands ready to continue working with them and relevant stakeholders in ensuring that these structures are swiftly put into place, so that local governments can begin receiving their rightful share of the revenue, thereby spurring much needed development across the country,” he noted.
He also highlighted that achievement aligns with the broader goals of sustainable development and poverty reduction, which are cornerstones of Liberia’s national development agenda.
He stated that with the approval of such National workable tools, InQuest Liberia is of the conviction that the successful distribution of revenues will directly empower local authorities to invest in critical areas like primary health care, education, road infrastructure, and community development projects, which will significantly enhance the quality of life for all Liberians.
The civil society head told the media that as InfoQuest reflects on such milestone; they are also reminded that the work is far from over adding that now that the legal framework is in place, the real challenge is ensuring effective implementation.
He seeks collective approach and responsibility to hold local and national leaders accountable to the commitments enshrined in the Revenue Sharing Regulations.