- THIS IS OUR THOUGHT
THERE IS A DEBATE WITHIN the intellectual class as it relates to unfolding sence between the Liberian Senate and the Civil Service Agency Director-General, Mr. Josiah Joekai.
The Liberian Senate is calling for his suspension or dismissal because he is said to have abrogated provisions of the National Code of Conduct of Liberia. The same code of conduct he had reportedly used to dismiss other Liberians from the Civil Service as employees of government.
MR. JOSIAH JOEKAI IN SHARP contradiction to his stands to the defense of the code of conduct was seen wearing the t-shirt of NAMBO, a political movement in support of President Boakai’s re-election bid.
IT IS ON THIS NOTE THE LIBERIAN Senators have called him to show cause why he should be retained as the Director-General of the CSA, after he had violated the Code of conduct which he did use to remove other Liberians from job.
FOLLOWING THE SENATE'S ACTION, some Liberians have condemned the Liberian Senate, while others are commending them for said decision, but here is out take.
THE LIBERIAN SENATE, UNDER the doctrine of oversight has the right to invite or summon any official of government whose action or behavior runs contrary to standing rules, procedures, norms or statutory laws of the motherland.
THERE ARE PRECEDENT CASES, where the Legislature invited officials to appear with their lawyers.
IF THE ACTION OF AN official of government is not clear, and possess serious doubts in the thinking of the Legislature, under the doctrine of Oversight, the people of Liberia through their representation in government has the right to inquire by inviting that official. If what the official who has been invited will say something which does not satisfy the lawmakers, they have the right to sanction that official. There is nothing wrong with that. The Liberian Senate is on its lane of operation. She is right to do what shi is doing.
WHAT IS EXACTLY HAPPENING between Mr. Joekai and and members of the Legislature is not strange, instead, it is a normal power play between the Executive and that of the Legislature.
If the official is not satisfy with the decision of the Legislature, he has the right to challenge the decision of the Legislature in a court of competent
THE LIBERIAN SENATE IS NOT in the wrong to sanction any official of government whose actions contradict his status.
To summon, inquire, and sanction an official, the Legislature does not have to invite anyone to do its job, and the Legislature can not share it powers or rights with any organ of the Government.
It is the victim/s of Legislative actions or decisions that should seize the opportunity to seek legal redress either from the court or from the ambusman since it has to do with the code of conduct.
IT IS VERY DISINGENUOUS TO ALIGN the Oversight Role of the Legislature to normal judicial proceedings.
YOU CAN NOT EQUIP JUDICIAL proceedings to that of legislative oversight. These are facts we need to know about Judicial proceedings.
1. Two lawyers of opposing sides argued openly in defense of their clients, but that does not happen in the legislature.
2. In judicial proceedings, witnesses from both sides can testify, in legislative oversight, it is not done that way.
3. In judicial proceedings, there are jurors, but in Legislative proceedings, no jurors, and
4. In judicial proceedings, bail bonds are filed, in the legislature, no bail bonds. So how could one think that Legislative oversight is usurping the function of another organ of government? As for us, the Liberia Senate is not in the wrong. Let us allow the Senate to rise to the occasion to exercise its power without fear or favor.
