MONROVIA – The House of Representatives has passed โAn Act to Establish the National Rehabilitation Commission of Liberia (NRC)โ, aimed at addressing the growing national challenge of rehabilitation and social reintegration of vulnerable groups across the country.
The bill, submitted by Montserrado County Electoral District #5 Representative Hon. Precilla A. Cooper, seeks to establish the NRC as a centralized body responsible for coordinating national rehabilitation programs for drug dependents, war victims, the elderly, persons with disabilities, prostitutes, orphaned and abandoned children, and disaster victims.
The passage of the bill followed a comprehensive report from an Ad Hoc Committee constituted to review and analyze the proposed legislation. The committeeโs report highlighted that the establishment of the Commission is both necessary and commendable, as it addresses critical social protection gaps within Liberiaโs governance and welfare systems.
According to the report, the proposed Commission will provide care, rehabilitation, vocational training, and social reintegration services, while ensuring human rights safeguards and confidentiality for beneficiaries. It also envisions establishing rehabilitation centers in all 15 counties for equitable service delivery.
The Committee underscored the importance of a unified institutional approach to rehabilitation, noting that existing agencies such as the Bureau of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission do not adequately address the broad range of rehabilitation needs nationwide. The report was endorsed by plenary through a motion proffered by Margibi County Electoral District #3 Representative Hon. Ellen A. Attoh Wreh, and the bill has been forwarded to the Liberian Senate for concurrence.
