Senate clears 35 presidential appointees

President Pro Tempore Albert Chie says the Liberian Senate has confirmed 35 of the 83 presidential nominees. Pro Tempore Chie said Thursday, 8 February that the confirmation exercise is in keeping with Article 54 of the Constitution which gives the President appointing power with the consent of the Senate.

Speaking at a regular news conference in Monrovia Thursday, Pro Tempore Chie said “We have confirmed 35 of the nominees while vetting process for the rest is ongoing aggressively in the various committee rooms.”

But Senator Chie says there are reports that some nominees are conducting the business of government without Senate approval.“All officials nominated by the president but who have not yet been confirmed are advised to refrain from taking respective offices until you are confirmed,” he warns.

He also warns appointees who are not subjected to confirmation against arbitrary dismissal of civil servants. He says confirmation hearings are taking up most of the time of the Senate, noting that there is an urgency to have public officials in place and at the same time vet the nominees appropriately.

“Consequently, works on bills in committee rooms have not yet been prioritized. We are planning a working retreat during the last week of March. We will finalize the most of the crucial bills in committee rooms during the retreat,” the Pro Tempore adds.

According to Mr. Chie, prominent among the bills are the Land Rights Bill, the local Government Bill, Amendment to the 1986 Liberian Constitution and the Civil Service Reform Bill.

By Bridgett Milton–Edited by Winston W. Parley