MONROVIA, Montserrado – President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has issued a proclamation extending the final session of the 53rd National Legislature by nine days.
According to a release from the Executive Mansion, the proclamation was issued on Wednesday amid the signing of a certificate of extension by members of the Senate and House of Representatives.
Both the Senate and House of Representatives had adjourned their final sessions in December in line with the constitution.
The constitution empowers the president, on her own initiative or upon receipt of a certificate signed by at least one-fourth of the total membership of each House, to extend a regular session of the Legislature. The extension can be beyond the date of adjournment or the president can call a special or extraordinary session to discuss or act upon matters of national emergency and concern.
According to the constitution, the proclamation shall be issued not later than 48 hours after receipt of the certificate by the president, when the extension or call is at the request of the Legislature.
The release disclosed that the final session was extended through a certificate of extension signed by members of the Senate and House of Representatives to extend the regular session from September 1 through December 31, 2017. However, the president’s proclamation orders that the extension takes effect as of January 4.
According to the release, the proclamation acknowledges the existence of several unresolved key matters of national interest that require the urgent attention of the 53rd Legislature.
The release added that the Executive Mansion is also aware of the emergency nature of the unresolved matters, which are geared toward enhancing the socio-economic interests of the state and its people.
When reached for comments to provide details of the specific matters the lawmakers were being called to resolve, Presidential Press Secretary Jerolinmek Piah did not respond. Jalawa Tompo, director of press for the Senate, and Isaac Redd, director of press for the House of Representatives, also did not respond on time.
Sirleaf is concluding the final stages of her administration. She is expected to hand over power to President-elect George Weah on January 22.
