Nimba County District#9 Representative Johnson Gwaikolo, has expressed disappointment over the failure of the Executive branch to dismay those he termed “poorly performing appointed officials in the Weah led government.
Gwaikolo who is the chairman of the House of Representatives Rules, order and Adminstration committee said the legislature has since recommended that the executive branch of government headed by president George Mannah Weah to fire under-performing Cabinet Ministers who are poorly implementing policies and programs to the detriment of the Liberian people in keeping with the spirit of mutual coordination and cooperation.
According to him most often members of the National Legislature, who are major determinants of the implementation of public policies, are scolded by their respective constituents for not doing enough to help ensure that government provides basic social services and improve their living conditions.
He made these assertions when he appeared as guest on the OK Morning Rush on OK FM 99.5 in Monrovia on Wednesday, May 5.
“The electorates elected 105 of us; 103 of us are in the Legislature. So that means the policies and directions that the country should go in should be determined by the Legislature. People out there don’t see the Cabinet Ministers-President goes out once a while. And so, it is us (the Senators and Representatives) they see. Those are the people they relate to”.
Recommendations not taken
Representative Gawikolo emphasized that though it remains the responsibility of lawmakers to provide guidance towards the direction in which the country is going, recommendations including the dismissals of public officials sent to the Executive by members of the first branch of the Liberian government are not given ears.
He, however, fell short to state the name of a particular cabinet minister or public official that has been recommended by lawmakers for dismissal
shifting blames on lawmakers
Members of the National Legislature have been persistently accused of dancing to the “flute” of the Executive due to the manner and form in which they react to the passage and endorsement of policies and programs sent to them by the President.
In some cases, their inability to hold public officials accountable by putting their feet to the fire to execute their assigned tasks and responsibilities in an effective and efficient manner compelled citizens and others to refer to the general body as a “toothless and rubber stamp” Legislature.
But Representative Gwaikolo stated: “The weight is on us. Yes, I believed that sometimes the assessment is not in the proper framework and it does not look at the proper context of things. But generally, it is expected upon us to provide that guidance for the nation”.
He emphasized that it is quite unfortunate that the Liberian constitution is structured in a way that legislators can only provide guidance, while the implementation or execution of policies squarely rest on the shoulders of the Executive.
He stated that lawmakers are most often caught between the scissors if their recommendations calling for punitive actions against Cabinet ministers who failed to execute policies are either ignored or downplayed.
Addressing personal needs
The constitutional responsibilities of lawmakers in Liberia include oversight, representation and lawmaking.
But Representative Gwaikolo observed that both members of the House of Representatives and the Liberian Senate are compelled to go the extra miles by addressing additional challenges confronting their people, outside of their constitutional mandate.
“Lawmakers are expected to be the Ministers of Public Works, Health, Education and so forth. You cannot shy away from that-even if your responsibilities are to make laws, provide oversight and to represent your people; you still have to find ways to attend to the personal needs because our society is structured in the way that those who wear the hat, their heads are shaking all the time”.
Representative Gwaikolo disclosed that despite the challenges, he remains committed to working with various stakeholders to improve educational opportunities for young people, adequate health care delivery, youth empowerment and development opportunities, among others.
He pointed out that teachers are being laid off at various public schools in a dishonorable manner, while some authorities are allegedly charging extra fees to impose more burdens on the already struggling Liberian parents.
He maintained that though the education laws of Liberia are good, the actual implementation of these laws remains difficult.
Representative Gwaikolo observed that lawmakers’ oversight responsibility over the education system of Liberia is not effective.
Meanwhile, Representative Gwaikolo has disclosed that significant progress is being made on some major roads in his district, while a scholarship scheme launched in the name of his mother continue to benefit scores of students attending universities and schools in Monrovia and the county to alleviate some of the constraints.
Note: This article was first published by front Page Africa online
