Concerned House staffers want capacity-building

Concerned staffers at the House of Representatives led by Bobby Addison are calling on the Liberian Legislature to create capacity-building.

According to Mr. Addison, nine years ago, members of the joint Legislative modernization committee completed the editing of the modernization plan for 2009-2013 at a special retreat held on the rubber plantation of the Liberia Agriculture Company in Grand Bassa County for effective Representation, lawmaking and oversight, but yet to be fully implemented.

He said at the retreat in Grand Bassa, some issues dwelled on the lack of mechanisms in the constituencies to ensure legislative consultations or reporting, as well as lack of capacity-building opportunities for both personal staff and central administration of the 52nd and 53rd legislature, among others.

He claimed that there were many personnel who are poorly trained, lack adequate equipment and job descriptions, while recruitment is highly politicized at the expense of the merit system.

He also noted that since the destruction of the library by fire, it is yet to be renovated up to present due to the lack of full support from the Legislature, indicating that prior to the fire incidence, the library and all of its offices were fully equipped with computers and internet facilities supported by USAID, through the National Democratic Institute, that enabled personnel of the Capitol Building and lawmakers to conduct daily research.

He called on the House of Representatives to purchase additional four new buses for employees to commute to and from work because the present buses were not in good conditions and not road-worthy.

By Bridgett Milton