-Passes Resolution
The Mano River Youth Parliament Liberia Chapter has finally passed its 2024 resolution with a clarion call to the national government to involve statutory youth groupings in the fight against drugs and substance abuse across the country.
The resolution highlighting major recommendations to the Unity Party Government was passed by the 4th MRUP-LC in its 3rd Parliamentary Session held in Central Monrovia on Saturday, March 23, 2024, with 16 of its 30 members duly seated.
It captured the theme, “Ending the scourge of Drug and Substance Abuse through Dialogue and Youth Engagement”.
In the resolution read by the Speaker of the regional youth body, Daniel Nama Nills, the group wants the central government through the task force established by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai on Drugs and Substance Abuse to ensure the involvement of all statutory youths and student organizations.
This inclusion of young people, according to Mr. Nills, is intended for them to carry out awareness on the prevention of drug and substance abuse, and monitor and report its importation and sale through a whistle-blowing mechanism.
The document further urged the Liberian Government to support the MRUYP-LC for the dissemination of the National Drugs Law nationwide and ensure the establishment of a court to speedily prosecute perpetrators of such a heinous life-threatening act of importation and sale of drugs and substances.
As part of the seven (7) count resolution, the Speaker recommends that the Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Agriculture support efforts of the MRUYP-LC to promote food security across the country.
The body approved the draft revised statute of the Parliament, disclosing that said document should be forwarded to the Ministry of Youth and Sports and other stakeholders as the working instrument of the august body.
During the 3rd Parliamentary Session, the Mano River Youth Parliament Liberia Chapter approved the draft annual work plan and budget for 2024.
“That the remaining seat of Nimba County is hereby declared vacant and the Speaker is authorized to institute measures for the conduct of an election in Nimba not more than 30 days as of the passage of this resolution,” the resolution reads.
The body resolved through its leadership to engage the joint leadership of the 55th National Legislature on the activities/workings of the Parliament and its budget to ensure an increment in the allotment from the National Government.
The Mano River Union Youth Parliament- Liberia Chapter is an offshoot of the regional body Mano River Union and comprises thirty (30) parliamentarians with two (2) from each of the fifteen political subdivisions of Liberia.
To ensure stability, regularity, decorum, orderliness, discipline, and proper jurisdiction in the MRUYP- Liberia Chapter in the conduct of parliamentary practices and procedures, set rules were adopted as governing instruments for the honorable body’s day-to-day activities.
The aims of the Mano River Union Youth Parliament, Liberia Chapter are to empower youth to develop and use their potential to contribute to the establishment of a culture of peace and sustainable development within the Mano River Basin among others.
The session convened on March 23, 2024, is in consonance with Rule 7 of the Statute, which provides that a regular session of the parliament shall be held rotationally once every six months for three (3) days depending on funding received from the National Government.
Also, as indicated in Rule 12, a quorum shall be necessary for the transaction of business but shall not enjoy the right to make decisions regarding suspension or removal from office of members.
Hence, following deliberations on key matters of National concern including drugs and substance abuse, youth involvement in agriculture, and national reconciliation in plenary, the body derived the aforementioned various decisions.
