MONROVIA, LIBERIA – The Senate has intervened to prevent Mohammed M. Sheriff, the newly nominated Managing Director of the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC), from assuming office without legislative confirmation. The Senate’s decision comes amid concerns that Sheriff’s appointment violates constitutional procedures.
During Tuesday’s session, Bomi County Senator Edwin M. Snowe raised the alarm, informing his colleagues that Sheriff’s nomination letter instructed him to take office “with immediate effect.” Snowe argued that this directive contradicts Article 54 of the Liberian Constitution, which mandates that certain presidential appointees must be confirmed by the Senate before assuming office.
Following Snowe’s concerns, Senate President Pro Tempore Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence ordered the Secretary of the Senate to formally communicate with the LEC Board, instructing them to halt Sheriff’s installation until the confirmation process is completed. The Senate emphasized that any attempt to bypass its authority would be unconstitutional and set a dangerous precedent for governance.
In a separate matter, the Senate is demanding public clarification from the Director General of the General Services Agency (GSA) regarding a controversial proposal to increase the budget for purchasing vehicles for senior government officials from US$45,000 to US$65,000. The request for explanation follows a report from the Senate Committee on Autonomous Commissions and Agencies, which found the proposed increase questionable.
