President Joseph Boakai has written the National Legislature, requesting the body to reconvene for 30 working days beginning April 1, 2024 and ending April30, 2024.
In a communication addressed to House Speaker Cllr. J.Fonati Koffa, President Boakai said his call is in adherence to Article 32 B of the Liberian Constitution.
The Liberian Leader in the communication called on the August Body to call a Special Session of the Legislature to convene from Monday, April 1, 2024 to Tuesday, April 30, 2024, to discuss or act upon what he calls “matters of national concern”.
Article 32b of the Liberian Constitution states, “The President shall on his own initiative or upon receipt of a certificate signed by at least one fourth of the total membership of each House, and by proclamation, extend a regular session of the Legislature beyond the date for adjournment or call a Special or extraordinary session of the body to discuss or act upon matters of national emergency and concern.
It further states when the extension or call is at the request of the Legislature, the proclamation shall beissued not later than forty-eight hours after receipt of the certificate by the President.
President Boakai said he acknowledged the first adjournment or constituency break of the body, which by law started on the Third Friday of March, March 25, and will end on the Second Friday in May 10th of each year.
According to President Boakai, there are time-bound critical national issues which must be resolved as a matterof urgency, as such it was important for the body to be recalled.
The President’s letter outlined the mentioned national urgency as the Financing Agreement for the Rural Economic Transformation Project between the Republic of Liberia and International Development Association(IDA) to extend to Liberia a credit which is deemed as non-concessional financing to improve productivity and market access for smallholder farmers and Agri-enterprises in project participating counties; the passage of the National Budget for FY-2024; and pending nominations for the full sitting of the government within the targeted 100-day deliverables, amongst others.
