IPNEWS: The Honorable House of Representatives (HOR) has amended its rule 63, thereby constituting two subcommittees under Ways, Means, and Finance.

Rule 63 of the House’s Standing Rules and Procedures states: “These Rules shall not be altered unless the members of the House have received a twenty-four (24) hour notice of the proposed change. The twenty-four-hour period shall commence with the placement of a printed copy of the proposed amendment upon the desk of each member. Changes in these rules shall be taken as a special order.

The subcommittees are Revenue, is chaired by Representative P. Mike Jury, while Expenditure is chaired by Representative Dorwon Twain Gleekia respectively.

According to a statement issued by the House Press Bureau, the body also constituted a Budget Advisory Committee, comprising Representative Samuel Kogar, as Chair Representative Jeremiah Sokan serves as co-chair, and Representatives Frank Saah Foko, Atty. Michael Thomas, and Ernest Manseah are members.

The HOR latest decision was reached on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, based upon a communication from Montserrado County District 12 Representative, Jerry Yogboh.

“I have the profound honor to present my compliments, and herewith I write to inform this august body that, in keeping with Rule 63 of the House’s Rules & Procedures, I wish to announce that within 24 hours, I will put a motion on the floor to amend the House’s Rules to allow the appointment by the Speaker of a Revenues and Appropriations subcommittee under the Committee on Ways, Means, and Finance,” he stated.

Representative Yogboh said this rule change is consistent with Article 38 of the constitution of the Republic of Liberia, which states: “Each House shall adopt its own rules of procedure, enforce order, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds of the entire membership, may expel a member for cause. Each House shall establish its own committees and subcommittees, provided, however, that the committees on revenues and appropriations shall consist of requirements of due process of law laid down in this with one member from each county.”.

The Montserrado County District 12 Representative is of the view that the creation of the subcommittee on Revenues and Appropriations will create effectiveness and efficiency in the exercise of the HOR oversight responsibilities, especially in tracking the performance of revenue envelopes and appropriations made during the passage of the National Budget.

Meanwhile, the constitution of the subcommittees was under the gavel of Deputy House Speaker Thomas P. Fallah, with authorization from House Speaker Cllr. Fonati Koffa.