Liberian President, Helen Johnson-Sirleaf has finally signed the 2013/2014 National Budget of US$581 million into law following protracted delay.

Disclosing this, Presidential Press Secretary, Jerolinmek Matthew Piah, said Her Excellency signed the national budget upon her return from Grand Gedeh County.

On September 12, 2013, the Liberian Senate concurred with members of the House of Representatives on the passage of the 2013/14 National Budget, submitted by the Executive Branch of Government, through the Finance Ministry.

President Sirleaf has delayed the signing of the budget, disclosing that there were lots of things in the budget that needed to be removed.

The Liberian Legislature which include, the House of Representatives and the Liberian Senate, and the Executive Branch of government failed at the time to give any concrete reason that led to the delay in the passage and signing of the budget into law.

 On August 9, 2013, the House of Representatives passed the 2013/14 national budget following a special session, and subsequently forwarded same to the Liberian Senate for its possible concurrence. The lower House passed the budget without any significant increment, meaning the 2013/14 Fiscal Budget stands at US$581 million.

The Senate equally failed to make any increment in civil servants’ salary, but only legislated President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf’s general increment of US$25 for civil servants contained in her 2013 Annual Message. The passage of the 2013/14 national budget saw the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL) contributing US$8 million.