Liberia Revenue Authority to comply with the committee by ensuring that details of the 2016-17 budget are presented in an effort to ensure its speedy passage.

Representative Moses Kollie, who is also chair of the House Standing Committee on Ways, Means and Finance, said that this will also afford the legislature the opportunity to make an informed and timely decision relative to the priorities as outlined in the budget.

Kollie made the appeal on Monday at the start of hearings on the revenue component of Liberia's budget for fiscal year 2016-17.

The budget, which is over US$555 million, about 11 percent less than the original approved budget of US$622,743,420 million for the fiscal period of 2015-16, was presented to the Legislature on May 16 by Finance Minister Boima Kamara following an appeal from President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to that body for an extension of two weeks to complete the budget.

Meanwhile, Kamara has assured the Legislature that the Ministry will commit itself to ensuring that presentations during the hearing will reflect the true essence of what the budget entails for the governance of the nation.

He noted that he will commit himself to providing appropriate responses in a bid to provide the clarity and proper understanding of the budget.

Also in its summary of the national budget, the Ministry of Finance stressed that a timely passage of the budget will allow both the ministry and spending entities to update their spending plans, work and procurement plans, especially for activities relative to preparation for the 2017 elections and the achievement of other projects.

The ministry also noted in its summary that it will be prepared at all times to provide the necessary information it has control over to help the Legislature to pass the budget before the first of July.
LINA WSG/PTK