MONROVIA – A legislative probe into the government’s ambitious revenue plan has uncovered systemic weaknesses, inconsistent reporting by key state agencies, and what lawmakers are calling “overly ambitious” and “unrealistic” financial projections, casting serious doubt on the feasibility of the proposed FY2026 National Budget.
By Jerromie S. Walters/Legislative Reporter wjerromie@womenvoicesnewspaper_i2sktp
In a damning preliminary report from the Ways, Means, and Finance (WMF) Committee, lawmakers revealed that the drive to increase the national budget by a massive 36% to $1.2 billion is built on a shaky foundation, jeopardizing national fiscal planning and public service delivery.
The committee’s investigation, which included hearings with major revenue-generating agencies, identified a pattern of poor accountability and unsubstantiated optimism. The report specifically flags the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC) and the National Port Authority (NPA) for providing “unrealistic” assessments that do not align with their historical contributions to the national coffers.
“The hearings revealed optimism for meeting the FY2026 revenue target but highlight structural weaknesses,” the report states, pointing to “SOE accountability, reporting consistency, and sectoral volatility” as critical areas of concern.
The $1.2 billion revenue target for 2026 represents a sharp increase from the current fiscal year’s $880 million budget. However, with only $719 million collected as of mid-November 2025, the government is already struggling to meet its current, lower target, raising questions about its capacity to manage a far larger budget.
The committee’s findings paint a picture of a revenue ecosystem in distress. Key issues include:
Inconsistent and Incomplete Reporting: The LPRC presented conflicting remittance figures, while the NPA’s presentation was deemed incomplete and lacking crucial financial documents, forcing the committee to demand a resubmission.
Ambitious and Ambiguous Targets: Assessments for agencies like the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NAFAA), the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA), and the Liberia Maritime Authority (LiMA) were described as “overly ambitious,” requiring more legislative action to align them with reality.
Undermined Enforcement: The report highlights a critical failure in enforcement, noting the relaxation of the Minister of Justice’s power to compel non-compliant State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) to remit their dues—a key reason for current underperformance.
Amid the concerning findings, the committee noted two bright spots: the Liberia National Lottery Authority and the Liberia Immigration Services were found to have the potential to raise revenue beyond their current assessments. To avert a fiscal crisis, the WMF Committee issued a series of urgent recommendations. These include fast-tracking critical revenue legislation, transferring collection authority from weak SOEs to the more robust Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), and enforcing mandatory audits and standardized reporting with penalties for non-compliance.
The report concludes that the ambitious revenue goal is only attainable with immediate and sweeping reforms. Without “legislative reforms… tightened SOE oversight, conservative forecasting, and strengthened institutional coordination,” the committee warns the government’s $1.2 billion forecast “risks becoming aspirational rather than achievable.” The signed report was submitted by Hon. P. Mike Jurry, Chairman of the WMF Committee, along with cochairmen Hon. Michael M. Thomas and Hon. Dorwohn T. Gleekia on November 27, 2025.
