SANNIQUELLIE, Nimba – Sen. Thomas Grupee of Nimba County has described the entire governing system of Liberia as a “complete mess.”

Grupee could not hold back his disappointment with the government after making a weeklong tour around Nimba with some members of the Nimba County Administration.

The Senator, who was accompanied by Nimba County Superintendent Fong Zuagele and Assistant Superintendent for Development D. Dorr Cooper among others, told the media in Sanniquellie following the completion of the tour that the problems within the education system, which President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf described as “a mess” are also found within the national government.

“Our entire governing system is a mess; not just the education system alone,” Grupee said.

He informed reporters that his weeklong tour gave him the opportunity to uncover many constraints faced by local authorities of the county at district, clan and towns levels, ranging from lack of pay to lack of oversight in judicial matters. He said there is a need to revamp the governing system of Liberia, especially at the local level.

“The local governing system has to be streamlined because right now it is dysfunctional. We need a local governing system reform as quick as possible in our country,” Grupee said.

“Everywhere I went, I got reports from chiefs who are actively working and are not on government payroll. Commissioners, statutory superintendents, and paramount chiefs also lack offices to carry out their day-to-day activities,” he said.

In addition to the lack of office space, he said commissioners, statutory superintendents and paramount chiefs do not have compounds or official residences. He asserted that this could be a major factor to their ineffectivness in the discharge of their duties to their people.

Grupee said in addition to the many problems faced by local authorities, the lack of staff is particularly damaging, adding, “This needs to be given very serious attention.”  He said if this is done, the work of government officials would be much more effective.

Grupee said the problems local authorities face has been noticed by the Nimba County Authority as they were also a part of the tour when these complaints were being presented to him.

The Nimba Senator currently serves as chairman on the Committee on Internal Affairs and Good Governance.

Featured photo by Arrington Ballah