MONROVIA – The House of Representatives on Thursday, October 23, 2025, mandated its joint committee on Education, Ways and Means, and Youth and Sports to review a proposal seeking the establishment of a US$25 million National Social Safety Net Fund aimed at assisting vulnerable Liberians grappling with the harsh economic situation.
The House’s decision followed a communication from Grand Kru County District #2 Representative, Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa, addressed to Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon. In his letter dated October 24, 2025, the former Speaker urged the Legislature to act swiftly by allocating funds in the upcoming fiscal year to cushion struggling citizens who, he said, are burdened by rising living costs and stagnant incomes.
Koffa described the country’s current economic condition as “dire,” noting that an increasing number of families are unable to meet basic needs such as rent and school fees. “Many families have become migratory, moving from one place to another when rent becomes due,” he lamented. “Heads of households no longer go home after work; they linger about until midnight because the landlord sits outside the home.”
The Grand Kru lawmaker decried the widening gap between ordinary Liberians and senior government officials, stressing that while the majority of citizens endure hardship, those in power continue to benefit from hefty allowances, expensive vehicles, and frequent foreign trips. “While we seek to rescue Liberia, our solutions must be equitable, with no one group singled out to pay a higher price,” Koffa asserted. “More and more families are beginning to fall in the dreadful Liberian category of ‘poor.’ This is not fair. A government of humans must lift itself to a higher moral order.”
He argued that the government has both a moral and constitutional obligation to protect its people from the brunt of economic hardship. Drawing comparisons with the United States, Koffa referenced programs such as food stamps and rental assistance as examples of how governments can support citizens in times of distress.
To generate funding for the proposed safety net program, Koffa suggested several cost-cutting measures and reallocations within the existing budget. Among his recommendations were the reduction of non-essential allowances across the three branches of government, minimizing foreign travel, curbing vehicle purchases, channeling part of the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company’s (LPRC) operational surplus, and borrowing a portion from the National Social Security and Welfare Corporation (NASSCORP) with a structured repayment plan.
“These are not extraordinary sacrifices,” he stated. “They are reasonable and patriotic adjustments to ensure that our people can survive these difficult times.”
Koffa underscored that the proposed fund would serve as a lifeline for low-income earners and struggling families, especially those facing rent pressures and school-related expenses. He urged his legislative colleagues to approach the proposal with empathy and urgency, noting that the economic situation demands swift and compassionate action.
“The time to act is now,” Koffa appealed. “We cannot continue to sit idly by while our people suffer under unbearable conditions. The Legislature must lead with conscience and responsibility.”
The joint committee is expected to conduct further consultations and report its findings to plenary for consideration as lawmakers deliberate on the 2026 National Budget.
