KAKATA, Margibi – With the deadline looming for President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to submit the draft national budget, the Liberian disabled community has reminded the president of her commitment to make provisions for them in the next budget.
Augustine Gbenie, the President of the Margibi Chapter of the National Union of Organizations for the Disabled, said Sirleaf during their general assembly promised to allot US$100,000 for the union.
Gbenie said, with the commitment of the president and her role in addressing the needs of people with disabilities in the country, they were hopeful that she would make good her promise.
He disclosed in a Bush Chicken interview that the US$100,000 from the government is intended to construct and operate the union’s local offices in the fifteen counties across the country.
At the same time, Gbenie has criticized the Margibi County authorities for failing to support programs for persons with disabilities.
He said despite huge promises, the authorities were paying lip service to the plight of people with disabilities.
It is required by law that the president submit a draft of the national fiscal budget to the National Legislature at the end of April each year to enable Lawmakers to conduct due diligence.
Recently, Sirleaf wrote members of the House of Representatives indicating that there will be a delay in the submission of the fiscal document.
In a one-page communication dated April 22, the President cited critical issues of the state delaying the national budget, and requested for an extension of the deadline for the submission of the 2015/2016 draft fiscal budget from April 30 to May 31.
Sirleaf said in her last annual message that she stressed the impacts of the Ebola virus disease on all vital national institutions, especially health, education and social infrastructure, which severely weakened their service delivery capacities.
She said the Liberian economy will grow by less than one percent in 2005 as compared to 5.9 percent projected before the Ebola outbreak.
Meanwhile, the Plenary of the House of Representatives has forwarded the president’s communication to its committee on Ways Means and Finance to advise the body within two weeks.
Featured image courtesy of Gbatemah Senah
