The President Pro Tempore of the Liberian Senate, Mr. Armah Zulu Jallah, has told a visiting Nigerian delegation from the Institute of Security Studies (ISS), Abuja, that working relations between the National Legislature and the Executive branches of government is cordial.

However, Pro Tempore Jallah was quick to highlight that despite this cordiality, there are sometimes friction between the two branches of government.

He stressed that misunderstanding comes about because each branch of government thinks and wants the best for the people of Liberia; noting that, “At the end of the day, we all come together and we have an effective government, which runs smoothly for the betterment of the State.”

According to a Foreign Ministry release, the Pro Tempore of the Liberian Senate made the assertion during lecture he delivered to 13 participants from the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), Abuja, currently undertaking an Executive Intelligence Management Course at the Gabriel L. Dennis Foreign Service Institute, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The one-week tour is intended to study the relationship between the Executive and the Legislative branches of the Liberian Government under the theme: “Executive - Legislative Relations:  Gap, Challenges and Prospects.” They will also look at security, governance and development issues of bilateral importance to both countries.

Speaking further, the Gbarpolu County Senator stressed that one of the areas in which both branches most times have disagreements is during the passage of bills and budgetary appropriations.

He used the occasion to thank the Federal Republic of Nigeria for its immense support to the Liberian Government and people, especially its intervention in restoring peace to war ravaged Liberia.

Speaking earlier, the Inspector-General of Liberia National Police (LNP), Col. Gregory Coleman, told the study participants that in serving the people and the government, police officers are guided by integrity and their families’ image to protect.

Col. Coleman emphasized that low salary and incentives for officers are some of the challenges the LNP face. He, however, stressed that the LNP officers are doing everything professionally to protect lives and property and to keep the peace.

Also, speaking, the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Mr. Sylvester Grigsby, stressed the importance of good working relations between the Executive and the Legislative branches of government.

He emphasized that such relationship helps to make the operation of government smoother and better for the promotion of the national agenda.

Minister Grigsby, however, stressed that the Executive still wields enormous power and that power can be used to its advantage; specifically, towards building a better country.

“Liberia is a unitary state. It has three separate but equal branches of government. The Legislature, headed by the Speaker, passes laws; the Executive, headed by the President, enforces laws; and the Judiciary, headed by the Chief Justice, interprets and reviews laws,” Minister Grigsby informed the participants.

“To further keep the relationship better, from time to time, the leadership of the National Legislature and the Executive hold regular retreats to thrash out any sticky issue or look at the overall governance of the state,” Minister Grigsby added.

The lecture ends on Friday, July 7, when the Chairman of the Governance Commission, Dr. Amos Sawyer; the President of the Press Union of Liberia, Mr. Charles B. Coffey, Jr.; and the Chairman of the National Elections Commission, Cllr. Jerome G. Korkoya will address the visiting Nigerian delegation at separate times.