By E. J. Nathaniel Daygbor in Monrovia
As the October 10th national President and Representative elections draw nearer, the campaign activities seems to have stalled normal legislative works at the National lLegislature. our Monrovia Correspondent says normal works at the two houses – the Senate and the House of Representatives are being seriously hampered.
On Thursday, September 07, the two chambers at the Liberian Legislature were seen empty, while few members of that august body that had made their way to sessions in obedience of their statutory functions could not conduct normal business due the low turnout. There was no quorum to conduct official business.
House Speaker Emmanuel James Nuquay, Senate Pro Tempore Armah Jallah and the President of the Senate, Vice President Joseph Nyumah Boakai, and other key members could not be seen at the Capitol Building. Capitol Building workers told our Correspondent the lawmakers have taken their leaves to attend political rallies for their respective parties.
Vice President Boakai and over 19 senators are currently in the Southeastern parts of the country on campaign trail, while Senators Jewel Howard Taylor and George Manneh Weah had just returned from the central parts of the country where they had gone on campaign trail.
Weah and Madam Taylor are representing the three political parties that made up the Coalition for Democratic Change, including the National Patriotic Party, Liberian People Democratic Party of criminally indicted former Speaker Alex Tyler and Congress for Democratic Change named the Coalition for Democratic Change.
Already, lawmakers have extended their stay at the Capitol Building for additional four months with the understanding to pass some legislative instruments that were submitted by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
The Liberian Legislature should have closed since the August 31st of this year, but the President requested that the lawmakers hold on for additional four months.
With the extension, it is statutorily binding that the Liberian government pay the lawmakers for their additional stay, but with the senators and representatives staying away from work, many are arguing they no longer should be paid any salaries and perdiem or alowances./
Majority members of the House of Representatives are seeking reelection while, Speaker Nuquay is contesting to be vice president on the ticket of the governing Unity Party. For Liberian Senate, the President of the Senate, Vice President Boakai, Montserrado County Senator George Manneh Weah, Nimba County Senator Prince Yormie Johnson and Margibi County Senator Oscar Cooper are seeking the Liberian presidency, while Bong County Senator Jewel Howard Taylor is seeking to be the next vice president in these elections.
The National Elections Commission has since declared official campaign activities opened since July 31, and less than 32 day left for the closed of campaign, contestants are not leaving no unturned, actively engaging the every loop and corner of the country ensuring that their political party candidates are voted by the Liberian populace.
