By Amos Harris
Naymote Partners for Democratic Development has welcomed the Liberian government’s publication of the long-awaited Revenue Sharing Regulations but is calling for their urgent implementation to unlock their potential for local development and inclusive governance.
This marks a historic first for Liberia, as the regulations establish a formal framework for distributing revenues from both natural and non-natural resources between the central government and local county administrations. This initiative promises to give counties greater financial control, potentially transforming service delivery and advancing local development plans that align with the government’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development.
However, Naymote emphasizes that the success of this reform depends on the strong political will and leadership of President Joseph Nyumah Boakai. “Citizens have waited too long for fiscal decentralization,” said Naymote Executive Director Eddie D. Jarwolo. “Every delay undermines local development and fuels community frustration. The government must now match its commitments with transparent, accountable action.”
To ensure effective implementation, Naymote has issued several key recommendations. These include the immediate establishment of the Local Government Fiscal Board to oversee equitable grant allocation, the opening of transitory accounts at the Central Bank for local governments, capacity building for county treasuries, and the activation of the Equalization Fund to support marginalized towns.
The civil society group also reminded stakeholders that Liberia’s long-standing centralized governance system, in place since 1847, has historically excluded most citizens from decision-making, which was a root cause of the civil conflict from 1990 to 2003. Naymote stressed that decentralization is crucial not only for improving service delivery but also for sustaining peace and empowering communities.
During the recent Montserrado County Dialogue on Strengthening Local Government for Inclusive Development on August 7, 2025, citizens expressed deep frustration with the delays in implementing the regulations, further underscoring the urgent need for government action.
Naymote called on the government to uphold existing legal frameworks—including the Revenue Code, Public Financial Management framework, Procurement and Concessions Law, and the Local Government Act—to guarantee transparency and accountability during the rollout. Founded in 2001 by student leaders and activists, Naymote remains a leading civil society institution dedicated to championing democratic governance and civic engagement across Liberia.