“Mere Joke…” – Sen. Cyrus Describes Security Sector Budget By: Julius Konton

By In Profile Daily Newspaper On Apr 3, 2025

It is an open secret that Liberia’s Security Sector is heavily challenged in all directions as the need for urgent attention to such key sector of the country cannot be overemphasized.

Speaking on the OK Morning Show, the Chair on the Committee on Defense, National Security and intelligence at the Liberian Senate, Momo Cyrus, described the budget allocated to the Security Sector of the country as a “mere joke”.

” Security is the first line of contact and needs to be supported fully,” he argued.

According to him, Liberia has the lowest budget for security in the region unlike other countries.

” I don’t understand why we under support security especially in the National Budget but I believe now is the time to elevate the debate, ” he added.

The Chair on the Committee on Defense, National Security and Intelligence emphasizing on the issue said it is shameful to see the dilapidated stage of the National Police Training Academy in Paynesville.

“How do you expect good training as well as officers to come from said bad facility?” He asked.

According to him, it is time to revamp the National Police Training Academy, provide more funds to improve infrastructure as well as capacity development of officers of the LNP.

Training, he stated, is key and essential for the police in order to get them up to speed with modern day policing.

“I am emphasizing police because, in most cases, they are the first line of contact with the people as such, more needs to be done for them,” he noted.

Meantime, in order to make some swift interventions, Senator Cyrus said the committee which he chairs, upon their return after their break, will in advance conduct hearings with the spending entities first and later on with the Ministry of Financial and Development Planning to see the need to help look at the issues and find a way in addressing the limited and or inadequate budget allotment to the national security institutions that are paramount to the country.