The House of Representatives of the Republic of Liberia has Repealed 2010 Act Establishing the Lofa County Community College (LCCC) and to establish the “Lofa County University”.
The Plenary of the House took the decision during the regular sitting of the Body on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, following a vote by majority members.
The Act has been sent to the House of Senate for concurrent.
The Act was submitted on December 16, 2021, to the House of Representatives by the Lofa County, District #3, Lawmaker, Hon. Clarence Kortu Massaquoi.
Below are Act submitted by Hon. Massaquoi and the Act to repeal the 2010, establishing the LCCC.
“AN ACT TO REPEAL THE 2010 ACT ESTABLISHING THE LOFA COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND TO ESTABLISH IN LIEU THEREOF A LOFA COUNTY UNIVERSITY AND GRANT IT A CHARTER”
Whereas, having been fully guaranteed by the Constitution of the Republic of Liberia for equal access to educational opportunities and facilities for its citizenry.
Whereas the Constitution of the Republic of Liberia lays emphasis on mass education of Liberians.
Taking into consideration the inevitable needs for the elevation of the Lofa County University, the only public higher education institution in the region, to a four-year degree granting University in order to enhance higher education as a means to decentralize tertiary education in the leeward counties, with particular emphasis on the upper-northern region.
Whereas, Lofa County is strategically situated in the northern region of Liberia, with about 19,400 students enrolled in 36 high schools across in the County; and that these senior high schools graduate an average of 1,200 students annually to be admitted into tertiary education programs.
Realizing the high level of illiteracy in Liberia which contravenes the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as the Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development (PAPD) promulgated by this Government.
Now therefore,
It is enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Republic of Liberia, in Legislature Assembled:
CHARTER OF THE LOFA COUNTY UNIVERSITY
ARTICLE I: CREATION OF THE LOFA COUNTY UNIVERSITY
SECTION 1:
The Lofa County University with various colleges and programs to be an institution of higher learning, situated in the City of Voinjama with the view of expansion to other Districts of the County is hereby created. The said University is hereby granted a Charter, which empowers it with all rights, privileges and benefits accorded institutions of higher learning under the Laws of the Republic of Liberia, and shall henceforth be known by the name and title “Lofa County University, or LCU
ARTICLE Ill:
COMPOSITION OF THE BOARD
SECTION 1:
The governance and control of the Lofa County University shall be vested in the Board of Trustees of the University which is hereby made a corporate body under the name and style, “the Board of Trustees of the Lofa County University” with perpetual succession of members to be selected and appointed by the President of Liberia as herein provided.
SECTION 2:
LCU shall have the President of the Republic of Liberia as its Visitor and (Chainman) Ex-officio of the Board of Trustees.
The Board of Trustees, as being constituted below, shall be widely representative of the entire Lofa County and appointed by the Visitor of the University, Chairman and Ex officio of the Board of Trustees and President of the Republic of Liberia. They shall remain in office until their successors are appointed. Members of the Board shall serve a four-year term with good conduct may be reappointed once. The following constitute the Board:
One member from the National Commission on Higher Education.
Minister of Education of Liberia as Ex-official who shall not be appointed or elected to any office of the Board.
The President of the Lofa County University who shall be Executive Officer and Secretary of the Board of Trustees.
One member from the civil society.
The President of the Alumni Association of LCU.
One member from the Honorable Liberian Senate.
One member from the Honorable House of Representatives.
Three (3) members from the Business Community (Lofa Marketing Association, Cooperatives and Community Banks).
One person from each of the Administrative Districts of Lofa
SECTION 2:
LEGAL STATUS
The Lofa County University is hereby accorded a legal and corporate entity with permanent existence under the Trusteeship of the University; shall have the authority to contract, sue and be sued, plead, and be impleaded in any court of competent jurisdiction within the Republic; to purchase or acquire and hold property, real and mixed with a minimum value of one million United States Dollars (US$1,000,000.00). The said University shall be perennially maintained in this County of the Republic for the education of its people and for all who may seek its advantages.
ARTICLE II:
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:
SECTION 1:
The aims and objectives of the Lofa County University shall be, but not limited to, the following:
To create, establish, and implement a co-educational institution of higher learning within Lofa County, Republic of Liberia, and to grant Associate’s and Bachelor’s Degrees in relevant disciplines wherein graduates from accredited secondary schools may pursue tertiary education in any field of learning provided by the Lofa County University.
To provide instructional and learning conditions in all aspects of professional, technical, and vocational education that will effectively contribute to the growth and improvement of the Lofa County University, as well as the socio-economic development of Lofa County and Liberia, as a whole.
To establish, promote, and maintain Center of Excellence for higher learning, where constituents of all races, classes, and creed, gender, and ethnic settings, can enjoy equal opportunities of learning.
To acquire, establish and maintain such auxiliaries with associated colleges and institutions at locations within the Republic of Liberia as may be decided from time to time by the Board of Trustees; and,
To pursue, establish and maintain affiliations and partnerships with institutions and organizations, internally and externally, for the purpose of enhancing and promoting quality delivery and institutional development within the Institution
The Visitor, Ex-officio, the Minister of Education (Ex-officio), the President of the University and the member of the National Commission on Higher Education may serve for more than two terms, i.e., they shall serve during their tenure in the positions within their original institutions. Unlike the above mentioned, all other members of the Board of Trustees shall serve for only two terms.
ARTICLE IV:
THE DUTIES AND POWERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
SECTION 1:
The following duties and powers shall be discharged by the Board of Trustees of the Lofa County University in accordance with its objectives:
To design policies and regulations for the enlistment, selection and appointment/employment of faculty and administrative staff; to set benchmarks for instructional courses; to approve appropriate methodologies and measures for admission; to create conducive learning environment and housing facilities for students; and to ensure all other things appropriate in keeping with the conduct of the Lofa County University.
To carve a seal and change same at its will and pleasure.
To award appropriate diplomas, certificates, and degrees.
To receive gifts, grants, endowments, instruments and/or purchase or otherwise acquire real property and maintain same in consonance with the provisions herein provided in this Charter and to use all such properties, personal or real for and by the Lofa County University in a lawful manner.
To solicit, sign, and carry out contracts and arrangements; to loan/lease real and personal property and to make sure that all deeds, bills of sale or other instruments in writing carry the seal of the Board of Trustees of the Lofa County University and such shall be considered in law as the act of the said Board, when finally signed and sealed in its corporate name; to sue and be sued, to plead and be impleaded against in all actions and to indict the same as may be necessary for final Judgment and to enforce in the name of Lofa County University;
To solicit endowments and supports for the institutions in an effective manner that will promote the interest of the Lofa County University, for its growth, as well as the improvement of its Faculty, Staff, and Student Body.
To approve and ensure the appointments of Deans, and Heads of various Colleges and programs, including other members of faculty and administrative staff upon the nomination by the President of the LCU.
To formulate/carve such by-laws, rules, and regulations for its necessary governance and as well as that of LCU.
To bestow academic honor and degrees granted by LCU, based on the consent of the President of the LCU.
To properly function in accordance with the By-laws, rules, and regulations of LCU consistent with this Charter and the Constitution of the Republic of Liberia and to ascertain the necessary and expedient acts for the administration of the affairs and attainment of the objectives and purposes of the said University; and
To verify and approve all budgetary allotments for the smooth operation of LCU.
SECTION 2:
The Board may obtain public lands in various counties and Districts of the Republic of Liberia when necessary for the advancement of the objectives and purposes of the LCU.
ARTICLE V:
DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT:
SECTION 1:
The President of LCU shall be solicited for by the Board of Trustees and shall be forwarded to the President of the Republic of Liberia. The Board is to submit to the office of the President of the Republic of Liberia three (3) names of candidates for said position of which one of the nominees shall be appointed by the President of the Republic of Liberia.
SECTION 2:
The President of LCU shall serve as the Executive Officer and as Secretary to the Board of Trustees and shall participate in all discussions of the Board of Trustees.
SECTION 3:
The President shall be charged with the responsibility to dispense the affairs of LCU in keeping with the Charter, Constitution and By-Laws of LCU, and he/she shall be required by the Board of Trustees to present an Annual Report/other Reports covering the affairs and activities of the University as may be required by the Board of Trustees of LCU.
SECTION 4:
There shall be Vice Presidents, Deans, and Heads of various colleges of LCU who shall be nominated by the President of LCU to the Board for its approval.
ARTICLE VI:
COMPOSITION OF THE UNIVERSITY
College of Teachers Education
College of Business and Public Administration
College of Agriculture
College of Health Sciences
College of Engineering and Applied Sciences
College of Technical, Vocational Education, and Training
The above listed colleges shall offer Associate’s and Bachelor’s degree programs and in addition to such. Other colleges that shall be organized from time-to-time by the Board of Trustees of LCU in advancement of the aims and objectives of LCU.
ARTICLE VII:
TAX EXEMPTION
The LCU shall be exempted from all sorts of taxation charged by the Government of Liberia, or by any County, Municipality of any subdivision of administrative agency of the Republic of Liberia, for any property that is owned or used for the said University whether improved or unimproved.
ARTICLE VIII:
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 1:
This Charter may be amended by an Act of Legislature of the Republic of Liberia.
SECTION 2:
If any provision of this Charter or any application of such provision to any person(s), natural or corporate, or any circumstance whatever shall be held unconstitutional or void; other provisions of the Charter or the application of such provisions to persons or circumstances other than those as to which it will hold unconstitutional, or void shall be affected thereby.
SECTION 3:
This draft Charter shall take effect immediately upon publication in Handbill.
Any law to the contrary not withstanding
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