The Plenary of the House of Representatives has voted to endorse and amend the Local Government Act, following the submission of a comprehensive report from the Joint Committees on Judiciary and Internal Affairs.
The Committees were mandated to review the Local Government Act of 2018 and advise Plenary on possible amendments aimed at strengthening local governance and decentralization across the country.
The report presented to Plenary reflects extensive consultations and two public hearings held on July 16, 2025, and November 5, 2025. These hearings brought together key stakeholders from the Law Reform Commission, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Governance Commission, Civil Society Organizations, and professional staff from the Legal Drafting Department of the House of Representatives. Participants provided expert perspectives on decentralization, public sector reform, administrative efficiency, and governance.
During the deliberations, the Joint Committees and expert witnesses examined the legal, structural, and policy implications of the proposed amendments. Discussions focused on: Strengthening the national decentralization framework; Enhancing accountability and service delivery at the sub-national level; Ensuring alignment with the Governmentโs broader development objectives; Promoting fiscal transparency and local autonomy; and Improving coordination between local authorities and the national legislature.
The Committees emphasized that amendments to the Local Government Act of 2018 are essential to Address emerging administrative realities; Remove inconsistencies that have hindered effective implementation; create a coherent and empowered local governance architecture responsive to community needs; and Broaden citizen participation in local government processes.
Following rigorous legal analysis and careful consideration of expert testimony, the Joint Committees recommended the passage of amendments to the following sections of the Act:
Sections 2.1h; 2.2b; 2.2d; 2.2e; 2.3; 2.4; 2.5; 2.8; 2.9; 3.7, along with the creation of new sections establishing selection criteria, a new Chapter 3, and the full application of the Public Financial Management (PFM) Law of 2009.
The amended legislation shall be titled:
โAn Act to Amend Certain Sections of the New Title 20 of the Local Government Act of 2018, Liberian Codes of Laws Revised, to be Known as the Local Government Act of 2025.โ
The Joint Committees expressed strong confidence that passage of these amendments will:
โข Strengthen local governance structures;
โข Enhance administrative efficiency;
โข Expand citizen participation in county-level development; and
โข Reinforce the nationโs decentralization agenda in line with the 1986 Constitution of the Republic of Liberia.
Meanwhile following the passage of the bill, its proponent Hon. Jeremiah G. Sokan thanked his colleagues who co-sponsored the bill and said he looks forward to its concurrence by the Senate. The engrossed bill has been forwarded to the Liberian Senate for concurrence.
