MONROVIA — Employees of the Liberia News Agency (LINA), under the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT) headed by Minister Jerolinmek Matthew Piah, have formally petitioned the Liberian Senate and House of Representatives, citing stagnation at the state-owned news agency due to a lack of resources, unutilized budget allocations, and a non-functional website. In a press statement released on December 11, 2025, the workforce highlighted critical operational challenges and appealed for urgent legislative intervention to restore the agency to full functionality.
The petitioners said that despite budget allocations of over $700,000 for the fiscal years 2024 and 2025, the funds have largely remained unused, crippling daily operations. “The allocation of over $700,000 for LINA remains in limbo for two consecutive years, crippling our operations,” the statement reads. They urged the Legislature to clarify the status of these funds and ensure their proper utilization.
Among the primary concerns raised is the continued inoperability of LINA’s website, which has been non-functional for nearly two years. Employees noted that the lack of a working website severely limits the agency’s ability to disseminate news nationally and internationally. “LINA is the only news agency in the African region, probably in the world, without a website,” the statement emphasized.
The employees also drew attention to ongoing operational challenges, including insufficient equipment, lack of training, and inadequate welfare support. These gaps, they said, hinder the agency’s capacity to perform its role as the central news collection arm of the state.
Calling for accountability, LINA staff requested an audit by the General Auditing Commission (GAC) to examine the status and expenditure of the budgetary transfers for 2024 and 2025. The petitioners stressed the importance of transparency and proper management of public funds, particularly those allocated to support news gathering and dissemination.
The workforce also clarified their position regarding past government actions, asserting that employees should not be held responsible for decisions made under previous leadership. “We cannot be held liable for the actions of the past government or past leadership of the agency. All we want is to do our jobs and not be mixed in the politics of old and new,” the statement said, cautioning against comments from officials that may misrepresent the staff’s neutrality.
LINA employees further called on the Ministry of Information to allow the full implementation of the allocated budget, including restoring the non-functional website, addressing logistical challenges, and providing support for news collection and dissemination activities.
The petitioners highlighted that restoring these resources is critical to enhancing the agency’s operational efficiency and national outreach. They stressed that a fully functional LINA is essential for maintaining accurate, timely, and accessible news for all Liberians.
The statement appealed directly to senators and representatives to intervene and provide clarity on what has happened to the agency’s budget allocations for the last two fiscal years. The employees requested legislative oversight to ensure that allocated funds are not left idle and that they are used for their intended purposes.
“The Legislature has the authority to ensure that public resources are used appropriately. We appeal to you to help us find answers as to what happened to LINA’s 2024 and 2025 budget allocations in the tune of close to one million U.S. dollars,” the employees wrote.
LINA staff expressed appreciation to the Legislature for receiving their petition and called for a speedy redress to the concerns raised. They emphasized that timely intervention will not only revive the agency but also strengthen Liberia’s public information system.
