-To Legislative Caucus
By SHALLON S. GONLOR |
shallonsgonlor@gmail.com
NIMBA COUNTY, Liberia — The Nimba County Administration has moved swiftly to address growing public concerns over the disbursement of US$90,000 from the county’s 2026 budget, noting that the funds were legally appropriated under an approved Legislative Engagement budget line and were not created specifically to finance the ongoing Nimba County Inter-Electoral District Peace and Reconciliation Tournament.
The clarification follows intense public debate in social media posts that erupted on Wednesday, August 5, after it emerged that over US$90,000 had reportedly been withdrawn from the county’s account and distributed among Nimba County’s nine electoral districts, with each district receiving US$10,000 through its representative to support activities associated with the countywide football tournament being held in Ganta City.
The allocation, approved jointly by the Nimba County Legislative Caucus and the County Administration during the county’s budget process, is being disbursed through the Office of the County Superintendent to members of the Legislative Caucus.
The Inter-Electoral District Peace and Reconciliation Tournament has become one of Nimba County’s premier sporting events, bringing together youth football teams from all nine electoral districts. Beyond competition, the tournament seeks to promote peace, reconciliation, unity, social cohesion, and youth empowerment while providing a platform to identify and nurture emerging football talent across the county.
Rep. Bility Reveals Allocation
Public attention in Nimba intensified after District #7 Representative Musa Hassan Bility publicly disclosed that members of the Nimba County Legislative Caucus and the County Administration had agreed to reserve part of the county’s 2026 Legislative Engagement Budget to support activities in their respective districts, including the football tournament.
According to Representative Bility, the decision reflects the county leadership’s recognition of sports as an effective tool for peacebuilding, youth development, community engagement, and talent promotion.
Representative Bility confirmed that Electoral District #7 has already received its US$10,000 allocation.
“As I am currently out of the country, I have instructed my team to use up to US$5,000 to support our district team in the ongoing tournament. Upon my return, we will consult community leaders on the use of the remaining US$5,000,” Representative Bility stated.
Questions Over Legislative Engagement Budget
The disclosure has renewed public scrutiny over the creation and implementation of the county’s Legislative Engagement Budget.
According to information gathered, members of the Nimba County Legislative Caucus had initially sought an allocation of US$100,000 each from the county budget to support constituency engagement activities. County authorities reportedly considered the proposed amount excessive, leading to negotiations that resulted in a significantly reduced appropriation under what was ultimately approved as the Legislative Engagement/Constituency Engagement budget line.
The arrangement has since sparked legal and governance concerns among citizens, civil society actors, and advocates of public financial accountability.
Critics argue that Liberia’s Local Government Act, which governs county administration and fiscal decentralization, does not explicitly authorize county governments to provide direct budgetary allocations to members of legislative caucuses. They contend that county development funds are primarily intended to finance infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture, and other public development priorities rather than provide discretionary allocations to elected lawmakers.
The controversy has prompted growing calls for county authorities to explain the legal basis for the appropriation, the approval process, and the safeguards established to ensure transparency and accountability in the expenditure of public funds.
County Administration Responds
Responding to the public debate on Thursday, the Media and Communication Department of the Nimba County Administration issued a detailed statement defending the appropriation while seeking to correct what it described as widespread misinformation surrounding the transaction.
According to the Administration, citizens have every right to question how public resources are utilized, noting that public accountability is fundamental to democratic governance.
“The Administration recognizes that citizens’ concerns about the use and prioritization of public resources are legitimate in any functional democracy. Public accountability requires that citizens ask questions, express opinions, and demand clarity from their leaders,” the statement said.
The Administration, however, emphasized that such discussions should be informed by an accurate understanding of how county budgets are developed, debated, approved, and implemented under Liberia’s Local Government Act.
The Nimba County Administration rejected claims that it independently decided to withdraw public funds and distribute them to lawmakers specifically for the football tournament.
Instead, the Administration stated that the appropriation was lawfully approved through the county’s established budget process by the County Council, in consultation with relevant county governance institutions, including the Legislative Caucus.
According to the statement, the approved budget line is officially titled Legislative Engagement/Constituency Engagement, not “Electoral District Tournament Support,” as has been characterized in some public discussions.
The Administration further explained that under the Local Government Act, county authorities cannot unilaterally create new budget lines or authorize expenditures outside approved appropriations. Its responsibility, the statement noted, is to implement lawful appropriations approved through the county’s governance framework.
Officials maintained that the Legislative Engagement allocation is comparable to other approved county budget provisions supporting education, healthcare interventions, community outreach, and constituency-focused development initiatives.
The Administration also argued that if an individual lawmaker chooses to dedicate a portion of his or her Legislative Engagement allocation to support community activities, including youth sports, that decision rests solely with the individual representative and should not be interpreted as a direct funding decision by the County Administration.
“It is therefore important to correct the misconception that the Superintendent or the County Administration alone decided to take US$10,000 and give it to lawmakers for football. That narrative does not reflect the actual budget approval process established by law,” the statement emphasized.
While defending the legality of the appropriation, the Administration acknowledged that many citizens believe public funds should instead be directed toward pressing development priorities, including roads, healthcare, education, water, sanitation, and agriculture.
The Administration described those concerns as legitimate and pledged that public feedback would continue to shape future county budget discussions and development planning.
Reaffirming its commitment to transparency and responsible governance, the Nimba County Administration encouraged citizens to seek accurate information and remain actively engaged in discussions concerning the management of public resources and the overall development of Nimba County.
The debate surrounding the US$90,000 appropriation is expected to continue as citizens, governance advocates, and legal experts weigh the interpretation of the Local Government Act and the extent of the County Administration’s authority in implementing Legislative Engagement appropriations approved through the county budget process.
About the Nimba County Administration
The Nimba County Administration, headed by Superintendent Kou Meapeh Gono, serves as the principal administrative authority responsible for coordinating local governance, implementing county development programs, and overseeing the execution of projects financed through county development allocations and other government appropriations.
Since assuming office, Superintendent Gono’s administration has prioritized infrastructure development, youth and women’s empowerment, public service delivery, institutional strengthening, and municipal capacity building across Nimba County. Her administration has undertaken road rehabilitation initiatives, supported education and healthcare interventions, promoted peacebuilding and community engagement, and worked with development partners to improve access to essential public services.
The County Administration has also supported initiatives aimed at strengthening local governance through enhanced collaboration with district authorities, traditional leaders, civil society organizations, and the Nimba County Legislative Caucus. Officials have consistently maintained that inclusive development and public participation remain central to the county’s development agenda.
Under Gono’s leadership, the Nimba County Administration has received recognition for several development initiatives and efforts to improve coordination among local government institutions. However, like many county administrations across Liberia, it has also faced public scrutiny over budgetary decisions, the management of county resources, procurement practices, and the implementation of certain development projects.
Most recently, the administration has come under heightened public attention following the disclosure of the US$90,000 disbursement under the county’s 2026 Legislative Engagement Budget. The controversy has sparked widespread debate over transparency, fiscal accountability, and the legal framework governing county budget appropriations under Liberia’s Local Government Act, prompting county officials to publicly defend the allocation process and reaffirm their commitment to the responsible management of public resources.
