CAPITOL HILL, MONROVIA – The Liberian Senate on Thursday, December 18, 2025, voted to concur with the House of Representatives (HOR) on the passage of the proposed US$1.2 billion National Budget, clearing the way for its implementation ahead of Fiscal Year 2026. The decision followed weeks of legislative scrutiny and hearings after the draft budget was submitted by President Joseph N. Boakai to the National Legislature.
The concurrence marks a critical milestone in the country’s fiscal process, as lawmakers concluded deliberations on both the revenue and expenditure components of the spending plan. The budget represents one of the largest in Liberia’s history, reflecting expanded government operations and increased commitments to recurrent spending and public investment.
Despite the Senate’s approval, the passage was not without controversy. Margibi County Senator Nathaniel McGill, a senior member of the opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), publicly distanced himself from the budget, outlining firm objections to both the process and substance of the financial plan.
In a statement following the Senate’s action, Senator McGill disclosed that he voted against the Oranto petroleum deal, describing it as a bad agreement that does not advance Liberia’s national interest. He contrasted that position with his support for the HPX and TotalEnergies agreements, which he said offer greater value and are more aligned with the country’s development priorities.
McGill further clarified that although he voted in favor of certain concession agreements, he remains strongly opposed to the 2026 National Budget. He explained that he exited the chamber during the final passage due to an urgent family emergency, but emphasized that his absence should not be interpreted as support for the budget.
Central to McGill’s opposition are unresolved concerns surrounding salary adjustments. He cited the increment in civil servants’ salaries and the wages of Capitol Building employees as key issues that, according to him, were not adequately addressed by the relevant legislative committee despite repeated engagements and discussions.
He argued that the failure to resolve these matters undermines the credibility of the budget, particularly given its expansion to US$1.2 billion. McGill maintained that approving such a large spending plan without addressing these critical issues makes the budget unacceptable in its current form.
Earlier in the process, the Senate, through its Ways, Means, Finance, and Budget Committee, commenced public hearings on the expenditure component of the draft budget on Monday, December 8, 2025. These hearings followed the conclusion of deliberations on the revenue component and were intended to ensure transparency and allow for detailed review.
According to Budget Committee Chairman Prince K. Moye, the Senate’s separate hearings were designed to give lawmakers and stakeholders the opportunity to closely examine spending priorities. The approved budget allocates US$929.6 million to recurrent expenditures, including salaries, goods, and services, while US$281.5 million is set aside for the Public Sector Investment Plan (PSIP) targeting infrastructure and community-based projects.
However, the structure of the allocations has intensified debate within the Legislature. The budget assigns US$51.7 million to the Legislature alone, an amount that significantly exceeds funding for key productive sectors such as agriculture and approaches half of the national health budget, raising serious questions about fiscal priorities as the country enters Fiscal Year 2026.
