Karngar-Lawrence gives special committee until Thursday to report on alleged revenue leakages as lawmakers demand accountability for millions in petroleum taxes
MONROVIA – The Liberian Senate is moving to investigate petroleum revenues allegedly collected but not remitted to the government’s consolidated account, raising fresh questions about the management of public funds even as US$24 million was reportedly generated for the National Road Fund in just six months.
By: Sampson W Weah – sampsonwweah7@gmail.com
Senate President Pro Tempore Nyonblee Karngar-Lawrence disclosed Tuesday that a special committee established to investigate unpaid petroleum revenues from previous years and current collections would present its findings to the Plenary on Thursday, October 15, as lawmakers intensify scrutiny of the petroleum sector.
Addressing the opening of the Third Segment of the Third Session of the 55th Legislature at the Capitol in Monrovia, Karngar-Lawrence said the Senate’s review had identified concerns that some petroleum dealers had failed to remit previously collected taxes to the government’s consolidated account, while some current petroleum tax revenues were also reportedly not being paid into the account.
The investigation will examine outstanding revenues, establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged non-remittance, and recommend a course of action for the Senate.
The inquiry comes amid a significant increase in petroleum-related collections earmarked for national development. Karngar-Lawrence said the Liberia Revenue Authority’s report covering January 1 to June 30, 2026, showed that US$8.4 million had been raised under a revised petroleum pricing arrangement, including US$1.7 million for social programmes and US$6.7 million to support county equipment.
She added that US$24 million had been generated for the Road Fund during the same six-month period, describing the collection as unprecedented in the fund’s history.
The figures, however, have sharpened the Senate’s focus on whether the government is properly collecting, accounting for, and transferring all petroleum taxes to their legally designated destinations.
In an earlier intervention, the Senate advised the Executive to restructure petroleum pricing to address revenue leakages.
The resulting adjustment set aside two cents per gallon for social programmes and nine cents per gallon for county equipment, with the combined arrangement projected to generate approximately US$16 million annually.
Despite the reported gains, Karngar-Lawrence said the Senate had found indications that some petroleum tax collections remained outside the consolidated account.
The special committee has been tasked with investigating the outstanding revenues and developing a roadmap to guide legislative action.
Its findings are expected to help determine the scale of the alleged shortfalls, identify where accountability may be required, and establish what corrective measures should follow.
The Senate has also directed the Public Works Committee to work with relevant committees to conduct a separate hearing into the Road Fund, with a mandate to ensure that the fund’s resources are used exclusively for road-related purposes in accordance with the law.
The probe places petroleum revenue accountability at the center of the Senate’s oversight agenda as the legislature resumes business, with potential implications for government financing, county development programmes, and road infrastructure nationwide.
The Senate has not yet disclosed the total value of the petroleum revenues under investigation or identified the parties responsible for the alleged non-remittances.
Those details are expected to be clarified through the committee’s findings and subsequent legislative proceedings.
