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    Bility slams the proposed $1.2B National Budget as “a spectacle built on fantasies and lies,” urging transformative reform.

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    By: Christopher Bestman 

    Congo Town, Liberia — Opposition political leader Rep. Musa Bility has delivered a scathing critique, labeling the proposed US$1.2 billion fiscal plan as an “Eating show” budget, one driven by illusion, deception, and reckless spending rather than genuine development.

    Addressing Scores of reporters at the party's headquarter, Bility, the political leader of the Citizens Movement for Change (CMC), condemned the budget reliance on one-time windfalls and inflated projections, warning that such practices threaten the nation’s future stability and growth.

    Rep. Bility has pointed out that while the government claims over US$1.2 billion in expected revenues, nearly 17% approximately US$200 million comes from a one-time payment by ArcelorMittal. 
    “Can a nation be built on a single windfall?” he questioned. “We think not.”

    A Budget Built on Fantasies, Not Facts

    “The 2026 budget is a mirror reflecting a government that has mastered the art of taxing and spending but has forgotten its sacred duty to build and serve,” Bility stated. “It is a spectacle, not a substance, built on fantasies and inflated by lies.”

    Rep. Bility expressed concern about the budget projections for 2027 and 2028, which show a drastic reduction in revenue when the ArcelorMittal windfall disappears. “When that money is gone, who will the government blame? The market women earning less than US$2 a day? Motorcyclists burdened by levies? Our teachers, nurses, and law enforcement officers earning below regional minimum wages?” he asked. “Is this fair? Obviously, we think not.”

    Inflated Revenues and Shams of Transparency

    The opposition leader also criticized the inclusion of an estimated US$10 million in contingency revenue from the Asset Recovery Task Force, an agency that has reportedly done little towards prosecuting cases or collecting assets. “Using one-off windfalls to fund ongoing expenditures is a recipe for disaster,” Bility asserted. “This is fiscal fiction, a budget of illusions, especially when the asset recovery rate over the past decade is less than 2%.”

    He emphasized that such funds should be invested in sustainable sectors like agriculture, which employs 60% of Liberians. “Establishing and capitalizing an agriculture investment bank would be a transformational step—supporting our farmers, fostering private sector innovation, and reducing poverty,” he added.

    Priorities Misaligned with the People’s Needs:

    Rep. Bility however highlighted the misallocation of funds in the current budget, noting that the legislative budget increased by 25% to nearly US$52 million, despite underfunded basic services. The security sector’s budget rose by 44% to US$151.8 million without clear justification, even as violent crime remains high. 
    “While bureaucrats and lawmakers enjoy inflated salaries, our farmers and health workers are left underfunded,” Bility lamented. “This is a betrayal of our people’s trust.”

    The Alternative, 'The People’s Budget:

    In response, Bility unveiled the Citizens Movement for Change alternative vision, the “People’s Budget”, built on three core principles:

    1. Development with Dignity: Prioritizing investment in human capital education, health, and skills development.
    2. Liberia-First Economics: Turning natural resources into sustainable prosperity.
    3. Replacing, Not Repairing:  Breaking away from systems rewarding incompetence and promoting productivity.

    Under this plan, the CMC proposes:

    -  Increasing education funding by up to 20%, ensuring quality and access.
    - Raising agriculture expenditure from US$13.6 million to US$120 million to support farmers and agribusinesses.
    - Boosting healthcare investments by US$50 million to modernize hospitals.
    - Expanding infrastructure spending from US$133 million to US$220 million, focusing on rural roads and bridges.
    - Supporting MSMEs with a boost to US$32 million for private sector growth.

    Fiscal Discipline and Transparency

    To fund these priorities, Bility advocates for cutting waste, reducing inflated salaries, and enhancing oversight through digitization and anti-corruption measures.
     These include:
     Legislation capping legislative salaries at US$5,000 per month.
     Audits of large taxpayers and renegotiation of resource agreements.
     Digital platforms for real-time expenditure tracking.
    Strengthening tax administration and compliance.

    A Call for Responsible Governance: 

    “Liberia deserves a budget that reflects truth, transparency, and the aspirations of its people,” Bility declared. “We stand at the edge of a fiscal cliff. When the one-time payments dry up, what remains are unpaid debts and broken promises.”

    He urged Liberians to reject fake revenue and the politics of dependency. Bility called for a focus on productivity, innovation, and sustainable development, transformative policies that will lift the nation out of poverty and dependence.

    A Vision for Liberia’s Future:

    “Our vision is simple, a Liberia that works for its people, not a privileged few. A Liberia where every dollar spent lifts a life, and budgets are about purpose, not politics,” Bility concluded. “It’s time for real change. It’s time for the People’s Budget.

    As Liberia prepares to debate and takeon its fiscal blueprint, Rep. Bility critique and provides alternative proposals serving as a rallying cry for responsible, transparent, and people-centered governance.

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