By Pewu Y. Sumo
Capitol Hill, Monrovia: — In a pointed critique shared via his official Facebook handle, Montserrado County Senator Abraham Darius Dillon has raised the alarm over a proposal to add sixteen new seats to the Liberian Legislature, questioning both its constitutionality and its financial feasibility.
Using his characteristic “light-pole” transparency style, the Senator Dillon challenged the legal basis of the proposal and the potential burden it would place on the national coffers.
The Constitutional Argument: Authority vs. Function
The Montserrado lawmaker argued that the Legislature is overstepping its bounds if it attempts to unilaterally create new seats. He cited Article 80 of the Liberian Constitution to clarify the separation of powers regarding electoral districts.
Quoting Article 80(d) of the Liberia 1986 Constitution which outlines the Legislature’s role in setting the threshold (the number of citizens required to constitute a constituency), Dillon said the Legislature role is solely to determine threshold while Article 80(e) grants the National Elections Commission (NEC) the functional authority to “apportion” seats based on that threshold.
“In short, the Legislature determines THRESHOLD… and the NEC uses the THRESHOLD to ‘APPORTION’ the Seats… where applicable!!” Dillon clarified.
The Economic Reality Check
Beyond the legal hurdles, the Senator took aim at the financial implications of expanding a government already criticized for high administrative costs. He posed a challenging question to his colleagues regarding their personal compensation.
Dillon asked if lawmakers would be willing to reduce their monthly income to $5,000.00 or less to accommodate the budgetary demands of sixteen additional representatives.
He bluntly questioned the necessity of the expansion, asking, “Why do we even need ‘additional’ seats?”
Why This Matters
This debate comes at a time when public discourse is heavily focused on government “rescue” efforts and the judicious use of taxpayer money. If the proposal moves forward, it could face a significant stalemate in the Senate, where Dillon and other like-minded legislators may demand a “reduction-first” approach to salaries before any expansion is considered.
Senator Dillon concluded his remarks with a call to focus on governance over expansion, stating simply: “Leh go to work yaa!!”
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