MONROVIA – Political Leader and Citizens Movement for Change (CMC) Representative Hon. Musa Hassan Bility issued a scathing critique of Liberia’s 2026 National Budget on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, describing it as an “eating show” crafted for spectacle rather than genuine development. Speaking from Nimba County, Bility warned that the government has prioritized political theater over the nation’s fundamental needs, calling for a budget that truly serves the Liberian people.
“The 2026 National Budget should be a mirror reflecting our nation’s soul, but instead it tells the story of a government that has mastered the art of taxing and spending while forgetting its sacred duty to build and serve,” Bility declared. He described the $1.2 billion budget, which relies heavily on a one-time $200 million payment from ArcelorMittal, as a fiscal illusion, warning that Liberia cannot build a sustainable nation on singular windfalls.
Bility expressed concern about the budget’s projections for 2027 and 2028, which show a drastic reduction once one-off revenues vanish. “When that windfall dries up, who will the government blame? Who will they tax next? The market women, the motorcyclists, the teachers and nurses who already live paycheck to paycheck?” he asked, emphasizing the unfair burden on ordinary Liberians.
He also condemned the inclusion of $10 million projected from the Asset Recovery Task Force, labeling it “fiscal fiction” because of the task force’s minimal collection record. “The projected $10 million is not fiscal policy; it is fiscal fiction. We cannot fund a nation on court cases that have not even begun, especially when the asset recovery rate is less than two percent of identified cases over the past decade,” Bility said.
Highlighting allocation imbalances, Bility criticized the sharp increase in legislative and security budgets. The legislature’s budget jumped 25% from $41 million to nearly $52 million, while national security spending rose 44% to $151.8 million. He contrasted these increases with the meager $13.6 million allocated to agriculture, which supports over 60% of Liberians. “One percent for farmers and 27 percent for bureaucracy. Is this the Liberia we want?” he asked.
Bility outlined the CMC’s vision of a “People’s Budget” that would prioritize development with dignity, Liberia-first economics, and structural transformation rather than patchwork solutions. The plan includes raising education funding by 15-20% to ensure quality schooling, modern facilities, and entrepreneurship programs. Agriculture would receive $120 million, fulfilling Liberia’s commitment to the Maputo Declaration and supporting agribusiness and value-chain development.
Healthcare would also see significant investment, with an additional $50 million to modernize hospitals and expand access to free primary healthcare. Infrastructure spending would rise from $133 million to $220 million to extend rural roads, bridges, and essential public facilities. Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) would see their support doubled from $16 million to $32 million, Bility said.
To fund these priorities, Bility pledged to tackle fraud, waste, and bureaucratic inefficiency. Measures include auditing public expenditures, capping salaries of lawmakers and senior officials, implementing whistleblower protections, and digitizing procurement and tax systems. “All savings generated from reducing fraud, waste, and abuse will be systematically redirected into education and agriculture,” he emphasized.
Bility further advocated for decentralization, legislative action, stakeholder engagement, and performance monitoring to ensure accountability. Independent review panels would assess progress, and executive appointees would be required to submit detailed implementation plans prior to Senate confirmation. “We must move from taxation to productivity, from rent-seeking to real enterprise,” he stressed.
The CMC leader concluded by warning Liberians of the looming fiscal cliff. “The year 2027 will come, and the one-off monies will vanish. What will remain are unpaid debts, bloated wages, and broken promises. We must not watch our future traded for political theater. Liberia deserves better than an eating show; better than a budget of lies,” Bility said. He reaffirmed the CMC’s commitment to transformative governance that replaces waste with productivity, creating sustainable prosperity for all Liberians.
