As frustration grows over Liberia’s struggling vehicle service system, Grand Gedeh County Senator Yaya Nimely is pointing fingers at the Executive Branch, accusing it of sidelining legislative warnings that could have prevented the current crisis.
Speaking during Senate deliberations on June 2, Nimely criticized both the Executive and the Inter-Ministerial Concession Committee (IMCC) for moving forward with the controversial Liberia Traffic Management (LTM) contract despite clear objections from the Senate.
The LTM deal, which handed a foreign-owned company responsibility for vehicle registration, driver’s licenses, license plates, and related services, has been under intense scrutiny. Motorists and transport stakeholders have reported persistent delays, difficulties with insurance processing, and ongoing shortages of license plates.
Nimely argued that these problems were foreseeable. According to him, the Senate had previously reviewed the agreement and expressed serious concerns, instructing the IMCC to return for further consultation before proceeding. Instead, he said, those concerns were ignored.
He described the situation as a recurring pattern in governance—where warnings from lawmakers are dismissed, only for the predicted problems to emerge later.
“The Senate made its position clear,” Nimely stressed, adding that lawmakers should not be blamed for the fallout from decisions they advised against.
The senator also questioned why authorities continue to defend or maintain a contract that has generated widespread public dissatisfaction. He raised concerns about entrusting critical national functions—such as vehicle records and registration systems—to external entities without fully addressing oversight issues.
For Nimely, the issue goes beyond service delays; it touches on accountability and respect for institutional roles. He emphasized that while the Legislature provides oversight and recommendations, the responsibility for execution lies squarely with the Executive.
In a push for stronger action, Nimely called on his colleagues to escalate the matter directly to President Joseph Boakai, arguing that continued engagement with committees that disregard legislative input is ineffective.
His remarks underscore rising tension between the Legislature and the Executive, as the LTM contract increasingly becomes a focal point in broader debates about governance, transparency, and service delivery in Liberia.
With public dissatisfaction mounting, pressure is likely to grow on the government to explain its decisions and determine whether the LTM arrangement still serves the best interests of the country.
