President George Manneh Weah’s nominee for the position of Deputy Internal Affairs Minister for Operation, Matenokay Tingban, has appeared for confirmation hearing with the pledge to help strengthen relation between local leaders and the President.
The deputy minister-designate said closer ties between President George Manneh Weah and the leadership of the local people will give the President an insight into problems affecting his people in their respective communities.
The nominee called for annual meeting between the chiefs and the President to discuss complex national burning issues that confront local people each day.
He stated that such engagement will also enable the chiefs to learn about the agenda of the government and help spread the message among citizens of their respective clans and chiefdoms.
Tingban indicated further that the good relationship will also strengthen national security at the time some neighboring countries are at the brink of insecurity.
The Minister of Internal Affairs is at the moment confronted with the problem of placing the chiefs on the ministry’s payroll to benefit for their service rendered the nation.
The Former Nimba County Representative said, if confirmed by the Liberian Senate, he will work along with the ministries of internal affairs, finance and the National Legislature to ensure that chiefs are on government’s payroll.
He emphasized that regular salaries will motivate local traditional institutions to work for their country and help promote national interest
On the issue of communal farming and promoting local agriculture, the deputy minister-designate emphasized that he will encourage his boss to ensure that farming takes precedence on the ministry’s agenda.
He emphasized the need for government to introduce mechanized farming in the rural areas and increase food production and security.
In his closing statement, Senate Committee Chair on Internal Affairs, Senator Gbleh Bo Brown, encouraged the nominee to make good his promise at the confirmation hearing, and urged him to wait for confirmation.
The nominee is a member of the opposition Unity Party (UP) and a liberal politician.