MONROVIA – A regular session of the Liberian House of Representatives was cancelled Tuesday after lawmakers failed to show up in numbers enough to form a quorum.
The no-show prompted House Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon to issue a stern warning: keep skipping sessions and face salary deductions.
Speaking to members present at the Capitol Building, Speaker Koon said persistent absenteeism was undermining the House’s work and would no longer be tolerated.
“We want to send this message to the leadership. The leadership will take the precise measures on those members that are always absent,” Koon said.
“I am not losing control over the House. Not at all. I want to caution those legislators; if they continue on this path, we will start going towards salary deduction for some reasons for not being able to do the Liberian people’s work on time.”
Without the required number of lawmakers present, the House could not transact business and was forced to adjourn. The cancellation has reignited debate over attendance problems in the Legislature, with some political observers suggesting the repeated lack of quorum may reflect deeper divisions among members.
Article 33 of Liberia’s Constitution gives the House authority to act in such cases: “A simple majority of each House shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but a lower number may adjourn from day to day and compel the attendance of absent members.”
That provision, Koon’s office noted, empowers leadership to take measures that ensure lawmakers attend sittings and carry out their duties to the public.
High stakes for attendance
The warning comes as the House is expected to deliberate on several key national issues in the coming weeks. With major bills and oversight matters pending, leadership says full attendance is critical for the smooth functioning of the legislative branch.
Speaker Koon made clear the House leadership will now move from warnings to action if absenteeism continues. For lawmakers who have made a habit of missing sessions, the next missed roll call could hit their paycheck.
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