-Former Speaker Urges Cuts to Perks and Foreign Travel, Use of LPRC Surplus and a NASSCORP Loan to Finance Emergency Relief; Seeks Action Alongside 2026 Budget
MONROVIA — Former House Speaker Cllr. Jonathan Fonati Koffa has called on the House of Representatives to establish a US$25 million National Social Safety Net Fund to provide immediate relief to vulnerable Liberians, targeting food support, school fees and rent.
In an October 24 letter to Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon, Koffa—who represents Grand Kru County’s District #2—said families are buckling under rising hardship and urged lawmakers to respond “with urgency and compassion.” He asked that his communication be read in plenary and referred to the relevant committees for review and incorporation into deliberations on the 2026 National Budget.
“Our people are restless,” Koffa wrote. “When the people are hungry, when children cannot go to school, when rent becomes an unbearable burden, the government must act.” He argued that a dedicated safety net would ensure no family is left behind during difficult times, noting that even advanced economies maintain food and rental assistance programs.
Financing plan outlined To fund the proposed US$25 million, Koffa recommended a package of cost-saving and revenue measures, including:
- Cutting nonessential benefits and allowances across the three branches of government;
- Reducing foreign travel for officials, except for critical national missions;
- Limiting the purchase of new government vehicles;
- Allocating a portion of operational surplus from the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC); and
- Borrowing part of the amount from the National Social Security and Welfare Corporation (NASSCORP), to be repaid over time.
Koffa said the steps are “reasonable and patriotic adjustments” that would allow the state to cushion households facing hunger, school dropouts and eviction pressures.
Appeal framed by social strain The Grand Kru lawmaker described a worsening social picture in which some families move frequently as rent comes due, parents delay going home to avoid landlords, and children face the stigma of deprivation. He contrasted those realities with high official travel and vehicle purchases, arguing the state should first prioritize basic protections for citizens.
Legislative track record Koffa, a lawyer by training, has represented Grand Kru County’s District #2 since 2018. He served as Deputy Speaker during the 54th Legislature and was later elected Speaker of the House at the start of the current term before returning to the backbenches. His tenure in House leadership was marked by high-profile oversight debates and an emphasis on legislative professionalism.
Next steps The House has yet to take up the proposal. If referred, committees on Ways, Means and Finance; Executive; and Judiciary are expected to vet the funding plan, legal framework and targeting criteria. Koffa asked colleagues to ensure the measure moves in tandem with the 2026 budget process so funds can be mobilized quickly. “Let us, as Representatives of the people, respond with urgency and compassion,” he wrote. “The time to act is now.”
