By Godgift Harris
A ‘thorough’ review of the National Draft Budget amounting to US$1.2 billion has begun at the Legislature.
As such, the House of Representatives on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, opened an intensive review of the Draft National Budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026.
The draft budget is a record of US$1.211 billion, marking the largest budget proposal in Liberia’s history.
While the milestone has drawn public attention, lawmakers signaled deep skepticism about the revenue assumptions underpinning the document.
They warned that several projections appear inflated, uncertain, and politically convenient.
The Joint Committee on Ways, Means, Finance and Public Accounts, began its scrutiny focusing on the revenue component.
Committee Chair Representative P. Mike Jurry, said the Legislature would not be swayed by the symbolism of a billion-dollar budget.
Jurry insists that the Executive must provide credible, transparent and verifiable figures before approval.
He specifically questioned the proposed US$200 million “signature bonus” from ArcelorMittal Liberia (AML).
Jurry cautioned that such a projection must withstand rigorous technical and legal verification.
He pointed out that previous administrations repeatedly used optimistic revenue estimates only to return mid-year seeking emergency borrowing to close deficits.
Deputy Minister Finance Minister for Fiscal Affairs, Anthony Myers, acknowledged that several key revenue streams remain classified as contingency revenues pending legal processes, and the completion of negotiations.
Critics argue that this practice artificially inflates projected income, while deferring accountability.
Lawmakers further raised concerns about Liberia’s rising debt servicing obligations, warning that domestic revenue may be insufficient to meet repayment demands without squeezing allocations for health, education, and other essential services.
Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) Commissioner General, James Dorbor Jallah, who appeared before the committee, defended the administration’s forecast.
Jallah announced that domestic revenue for FY2025 reached US$715.3 million, surpassing the previous year’s performance.
He said, the FY2026, target US$1.14 billion in domestic revenue, and US$72 million in external resources is achievable through reforms, such as expanded mobile money tax payments.
Nationwide Starlink-enabled connectivity to reduce leakages, and enhanced digital monitoring systems.
However, several lawmakers, in private, expressed doubts that these reforms could generate the steep revenue surge projected by the Executive.
The committee demanded county-by-county revenue breakdowns, updates on stalled agreements, and improved public digital tracking tools to ensure clarity on government cash flows and prevent unauthorized fund movements.
Rep. Jurry said the budget belongs to the Liberian people, and urged greater involvement from civil society, the media, and accountability organizations throughout the process.
With the revenue debate still unresolved, lawmakers are expected to intensify scrutiny as they shift next to the expenditure component where contentious issues remain over allocations to infrastructure, security, education, and the health sector.