By Jerromie S. Walters
Monrovia, Liberia — The House of Representatives has begun reviewing a proposal to procure vehicles worth US$15,000 eachfor all 73 Chiefs of Office Staff assigned to lawmakers of the 55th Legislature — a move that could cost the government nearly US$1.1 million at a time when the House has just secured buses to transport its employees.
The proposal, debated during the House’s first sitting of the Third Quarter of the Second Session, was forwarded to the Committee on Ways, Means, and Finance for scrutiny in collaboration with the House Leadership. The committee is expected to assess the feasibility, financial implications, and necessity of the procurement before reporting back to plenary.
The communication, jointly signed by Hon. Michael Thomas, Hon. Prince A. Toles, Hon. Prescilla A. Cooper, and Hon. Alex J. Grant, argues that the Chiefs of Office Staff—who serve as administrative and operational deputies to Representatives—are facing “increasing challenges” in executing their duties due to transportation constraints.
According to the lawmakers, these officials play a vital role in supporting the Legislature’s three cardinal functions: representation, lawmaking, and oversight. They manage constituency offices, supervise staff, and often act on behalf of Representatives during official engagements.
“Our Chiefs of Office Staff find it increasingly difficult to meet deadlines for several engagements through public transportation,” the lawmakers wrote. “This situation impedes our work and affects coordination between offices. We therefore crave the indulgence of this Honorable Body to consider procuring, if deemed satisfactory, vehicles valued at US$15,000 each to facilitate mobility and improve legislative performance.”
The communication sparked deliberations on the House floor, with members agreeing that while the request underscored genuine operational challenges, its fiscal impact warranted deeper review.
The proposed procurement comes months after the House’s leadership secured buses for staff of the House of Representatives — an initiative praised as a cost-efficient move to improve staff mobility and punctuality. The contrast between the collective busing program and the proposed individual vehicle purchase has fueled debate over the House’s spending priorities and the broader issue of institutional efficiency.
Analysts say the juxtaposition raises a crucial policy question: Should the Legislature invest in individual vehicles or expand shared transport systems that reduce costs and maintenance burdens on the state? The new proposal, if approved, could add significant pressure to an already constrained national budget and invite public scrutiny over perceived legislative privileges amid ongoing economic challenges.
Still, others argue that effective legislative work depends heavily on mobility — especially for Chiefs of Office Staff who coordinate between the Capitol Building, ministries, and constituency offices across the country’s 15 counties.
