Paynesville: In a move signaling a more assertive role in the nation’s finances, the Joint Committee on Ways, Means, Finance, and Budget convened a high-level session with financial controllers from across the government today, demanding that the upcoming Fiscal Year 2026 budget be technically sound, socially responsive, and grounded in reality.
Held at the Paynesville Town Hall, the session sets the stage for what lawmakers promise will be a rigorous budget process focused on transparency, accountability, and strict compliance with legislative mandates.
Setting the tone for the day, the Co-Chair of the Joint Committee, Senator Prince K. Moye, challenged officials to look beyond the spreadsheets. He emphasized that the national budget must reflect “the real needs of the people,” and urged policymakers to listen to the stories behind the numbers, not only the numbers themselves.
“This process requires integrity, intelligence, and unity of purpose,” Senator Moye stated, framing the budget as a civic duty. He stressed the need for clarity on past performance, transparency in current projections, and boldness in future plans.
In a clear warning to government agencies, the Committee Chair, Representative P. Mike Jurry, unveiled a strengthened legislative agenda for 2026 centered on “enhancing compliance.” He defined this as ensuring all government departments strictly adhere to laws, regulations, and policy directives passed by the legislature.
“Enforcing compliance ensures that public officials operate within legal boundaries, follow established financial standards, and avoid abuse of power, dishonesty, and inefficiency,” Rep. Jurry asserted.
He disclosed several priority actions, including:
* **Increased public hearings** to assess enforcement of laws.
* **Broader revenue performance reviews** to evaluate tax collection.
* **Deeper expenditure reviews** in partnership with the Public Accounts Committee.
Significantly, Rep. Jurry revealed that the Committee is reviewing statutes to determine appropriate consequences for non-compliance, which could include **budget cuts, sanctions, or legal action.**
The strategic working session, organized by the Legislative Budget Office (LBO), is a key preparatory step for the FY2026 draft budget. During technical presentations, lawmakers including Senator Francis Dopoh outlined the specific requirements for Budget Performance Reporting that all spending entities must follow.
The session underscores the legislature’s ongoing effort to strengthen fiscal discipline and deliver a budget that is not only credible but truly serves the people of Liberia.
