Monrovia –There are growing concerns over the level of control Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon still has over the House of Representatives, as many members of that august body are now staying away from sittings under his leadership.

By Emmanuel Weedee-Conway, Emmanuel.weedeeconway@frontpagafricaonline.com

Tuesday presented the worst-case scenario as plenary failed to meet the required quorum for normal legislative business, leaving Speaker Koon with no alternative but to entertain a motion for adjournment.

While there have been concerns over the late start of sessions under Speaker Koon’s Administration, the absence of many lawmakers signals something different. To many, the failure to meet the required quorum is a clear manifestation that he is losing his grip on the majority.

Section 2.1 of the Standing Rules and Orders of the House of Representatives, established under Article 38 of the 1986 Liberian Constitution, provides that daily sessions are scheduled from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon (Morning Sitting) and from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Afternoon Sitting).

However, contrary to this provision, most daily sittings of the House of Representatives begin around 1:00 p.m. or several minutes afterward due to lawmakers’ laxity in conducting the Liberian people’s business, something that has drawn public attention.

With the chamber nearly empty until about 1:00 p.m., Speaker Koon himself expressed concern and frowned at why his colleagues had not come to session for regular legislative business.

As usual, Speaker Koon instructed the Clerical Office to summon lawmakers to session through an announcement. The announcement was repeatedly made throughout the building, but no additional member entered the chamber to help reach a quorum.

“Good morning, Honorable Members. By directive of the Honorable Speaker of the House of Representatives, all lawmakers within the confines of the House of Representatives are requested to proceed to the Chamber for session,” announced the clerical staff.

With the announcement echoing for more than an hour through the corridors of the House and it becoming evident that members had chosen to boycott the day’s session, Speaker Koon immediately requested a motion from the floor for adjournment since the required numbers were not present to hold session. “We lack the quorum to do the Liberian people’s business, and so we urge one of our colleagues to make a motion for adjournment,” declared Speaker Koon.

On the order of Speaker Koon, Montserrado County Electoral District 16 Representative Dixon W. Seboe consented and made a motion for adjournment.

“With the notice from our responsible staff, and noting that after more than two hours of waiting since 10:00, we have not obtained the requisite quorum to do the Liberian people’s job, I move, if seconded, that we adjourn and reassemble on Thursday,” Representative Seboe stated in his motion.

The motion was overwhelmingly seconded by the handful of lawmakers in session, leading to the premature adjournment of the day’s normal legislative business.

With only 15 members present—far below the 37 needed to conduct session—Speaker Koon is now considering a more drastic approach: slashing the salaries of members who fail to attend session or consistently arrive late.

In so doing, he has vowed to report the matter to House leadership for a more holistic approach.

“Most of them drag their feet in coming to session. Since 10:00 this morning, we have been sitting here. We called roll, and after more than two hours we only have 15 members in attendance. So we want to send a message to leadership, and they will take appropriate measures against those members who are always absent.”

“I want to let them know that if they continue on this path, we will begin reducing their salaries for failing to do the Liberian people’s job on time,” he declared during a brief interview with legislative reporters.

Tuesday’s occurrence was, in fact, the second time the House has failed to reach a quorum since the reopening of the House for the Second Quarter of the Third Session of the 55th Legislature.

It may be recalled that a fortnight ago, on May 18, regular plenary session could not be held because nine lawmakers – seven of them members of the House – were graduating from the Gabriel L. Dennis Foreign Service Institute, and several of their colleagues had gone to attend the graduation ceremony.

Asked whether he was losing control over his members, Speaker Koon responded: “No. Not at all; not at all.”