Margibi County Senator Nathaniel McGill has accused Public Works Ministry of illegally awarding US$21 million road contracts to construction companies without budgetary support. The Margibi County Senator told reporters on Monday, March 18, 2024 on Capitol Hill that the action of the Unity Party-led government through the Ministry of Public Works is in complete violation of Article 34(d) and subsection III, which states that “no loan shall be raised or guaranteed without the authority of legislative enactment”.
Senator McGill said while it is true that he fully supportsthe much-needed rehabilitation and construction of roads across the country, it is imperative that these projects are executed in full compliance with the laws of the country. He indicated that in the absence of approved budget and with the exception of the US$2 million allotted to Public Works for policy priorities with in the President’s 100-day deliverables from the approved US$41 million, there is no source for US$21 million worth of contract.
The Senate Committee Chair on Education further noted that the laws state that any government institution issuing contracts must ensure that funding is available before awarding such contracts, as outlined in the Public Financial Management (PFM) and the PPCC Act, which emphasized on international and national open competitive bidding process for contract ceiling for procurement of goods, services and work.
He vowed to write the plenary of the Liberian Senate to cite Public Works Ministry authorities to justify their action.