Pres. Sirleaf calls Special Legislative session

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has issued a proclamation requesting members of the 53rd Liberian Legislature to return to their respective chambers for a special session, beginning November 8 through December 8, 2016.

A Foreign Ministry release quotes the Proclamation as saying that members of the legislature are to assemble in their respective Chambers to discuss and act upon matters of national concern, requiring urgent legislative decisions and actions for a period of one month.

Article 32(b) of the Liberian Constitution gives the President of Liberia the authority to extend a regular session of the Legislature or call a special or extraordinary session of the body to discuss and act upon matters of national emergency or concern by the issuance of Proclamation calling Members of that body to duty.

The release further indicated that pursuant to Article 32(b) of the Liberian Constitution, the Presidential Proclamation states: “I do hereby issue this Proclamation for the 53rd Legislature to return for a Special Session by assembling in each of their respective Chambers in the Capitol Building, in the City of Monrovia, Montserrado County, Republic of Liberia, to discuss and act upon matter of national concern, for a period one month”.

Meanwhile, Members of the House of Representatives Wednesday convened a reconciliatory retreat among lawmakers in Ganta, Nimba County from November 2 -3, 2016. For several months, members of the House of Representatives were engaged in internal wrangling, the fight that led to the removal of former Speaker Alex Tyler.

The newly elected Speaker J. Emmanuel Nuquay has vowed to reconcile the house.  Former Finance and Foreign Affairs Minister Augustine Ngafuan is expected to speak lawmakers on topic, ‘Institutional image building.

While Francis Wilson will discuss ‘Building Capacity for Legislative Efficiency’; Rev. Bartholomew B. Colley is expected to lecture on transparent and accountable Leadership – Building the Trust of Legislative Members.