TUBMANBURG, Bomi County | The Cabinet of the Republic of Liberia, meeting on Sunday, November 30th, under the leadership of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., has endorsed the country’s first national budget to exceed US$1 billion and agreed on new measures to drive job creation and strengthen the national response to drug abuse.
The decisions are contained in a Cabinet Communiqué issued December 2, 2025, by the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs through the Office of the Director‑General of the Cabinet.
According to the communiqué, the Cabinet session focused on three priority areas:
- Job creation,
- National response to drug abuse, and
- The FY2025/26 draft national budget.
Jobs: Boakai Orders Coordinated Push on Employment Strategy
While acknowledging that “much has been done to create jobs,” the Cabinet said President Boakai and his team have been “discussing ways to increase employment, with emphasis on young people.”
Ministers agreed to move forward with a National Employment Acceleration Strategy, which will concentrate on:
- Investment‑driven job creation,
- Public works programs,
- Skills development, and
- Targeted support to sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing and tourism, as well as micro, small and medium‑size enterprises (MSMEs).
The communiqué notes that labor‑relevant institutions should collaborate more closely on “relevant surveys and data collection.”
President Boakai directed the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo‑Information Services (LISGIS), the National Port Council (NPC), the Civil Service Agency (CSA) and the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) to compile and provide quarterly reports on employment and related indicators.
Drug Abuse: Cabinet Backs Comprehensive National Response
The Cabinet also discussed Liberia’s mounting drug‑abuse crisis, signaling a more coordinated national response.
While the communiqué does not list every detail, it underscores the need for an approach that combines:
- Prevention and public education,
- Treatment and rehabilitation, and
- Stronger law‑enforcement and regulatory measures against illegal drug trafficking and unregulated rehab centers.
Ministers agreed that relevant agencies must work in tighter coordination to protect communities—especially young people—from the growing threat of narcotics and substance abuse.
First US$1 Billion Budget: Cabinet Welcomes FY2025/26 Submission
On the fiscal front, the Cabinet “welcomed the submission of the first budget to exceed USD 1 billion.” The Minister of Finance and Development Planning briefed colleagues on the FY2025/26 draft budget, which currently stands at US$1.211 billion.
According to the communiqué, the Cabinet emphasized that the budget is aligned with President Boakai’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, focusing on:
- Improving livelihoods,
- Strengthening national security, and
- Advancing Liberia’s long‑term development.
The communiqué notes that the budget’s strategic direction and priorities will be further clarified during ongoing engagements with the Legislature and key national stakeholders.
Ministers underscored the importance of transparent and accountable management of public resources as the government seeks legislative approval for the landmark spending plan.
Cabinet: Boakai Administration “Remains Focused”
The Cabinet communiqué concludes by stressing that the Boakai administration “remains focused” on job creation, confronting drug abuse, and using the expanded fiscal space of the new budget to deliver tangible improvements in the lives of Liberians. The document is signed by the Director‑General of the Cabinet on behalf of the President and his ministers.
