Sen. Taylor’s motion trashed

-Minister Nagbe appears Thursday

Youth and Sports Minister Eugene Nagbe has been summoned to appear before the Plenary of the Liberian Senate tomorrow, Thursday, March 5, 2015 at 11: am after a motion of reconciliation advanced by Bong County senator Jewel Howard Taylor was trashed by Senators on Capitol Hill yesterday. 

Minister Nagbe is to appear to show cause why he should not be held in contempt for impeding the functions of the Senate.

The senate’s decision was triggered by a report from its ad-hoc committee recently set up to investigate whether the Youth and Sports Ministry was ready to host the National County Sports Meet next month.

The committee, chaired by Montserrado County Senator George M. Weah, complained to Plenary that the Minister did not show any courtesy when he was cited for a hearing to explain the level of preparations made to ensure the hosting of the tournament.

Senator Weah told Plenary  that instead of responding to the committee’s call, the Minister rather told the Senators to redirect their energy towards preparing for appropriation in the 2015/2016 National budget so that the Ministry can organize and implement a national county meet.

Senator Weah quoted Minister Nagbe in the report as advising the Senators to refrain from proceeding with hearing into the feasibility of an activity that they did not budget for.

The Montserrado County Lawmaker further informed plenary that Minster Nagbe, in a disrespectful manner, impeded the workings of the Legislature by posting communication from the committee on facebook and in the newspaper.

The Committee disclosed that Nagbe refused to honor their invitation, harboring the belief that since the Senators did not appropriate money in the 2014/2015 budget, they had no right to ask him about preparations for the County Meet.

The committee considered the minister’s refusal to honor the hearing as an obstruction to the work of the Senate.

But Senator Taylor, in a motion craving the indulgence of Plenary for the Youth and Sports Minister to appear before the committee for onward investigation and not the plenary of the Liberian senate.

However, two Senators voted in favor of the motion, while thirteen voted against with four abstentions.