The Green Revolution of Liberia, a political pressure group, has characterized Mr. Simeon Freeman, the political leader of the Movement for Progressive Change (MPC), as a failed and confused political opportunist and tax-evading king Kong who continues to seek attention at the expense of every administration while hoping to evade the payment of legitimate taxes owed to the Government of Liberia.
“We would like to remind this tax-evading individual that we are aware of his failed strategy, and our people massively reject it. We, the members of the Green Revolution, advise that he put his economic theories into practical action to improve the lives of our people. Instead, he chooses to operate the Sinkor Palace, promoting prostitution and other immoral activities at night, while the people he attempts to deceive go to bed on empty stomachs daily.”
“How can you, Mr. Simeon Freeman, criticize a government barely two months old when your disjointed vision has never made sense to us, the electorate? Your supposed mini-city remains a fantasy, your water factory a myth, and the juice factory another economic falsehood that is too sophisticated for someone like you who continues to preach it,” the group stressed.
The Green Revolution maintains that Freeman lacks any political or presidential posture, evident in his inability to secure significant votes despite 13 years of campaigning and presenting his disjointed vision to the people. In the 2023 elections, he only managed to secure 13,205 out of 2 million votes.
“From all indications, Mr. Freeman, you are a political failure with no understanding of the people’s needs. People are aware of the poor labor practices at your DSTV establishment, where workers suffer under your inhumane treatment. When was the last time you held an appreciation program to honor and show gratitude to your workers, who continue to struggle to provide for you and your family?”
“For your information, the 2024 national budget is a significant development for our country. We are witnessing substantial increases in all sectors, particularly education, health, and security,” the group emphasized.
According to them, this increase will fund free and compulsory primary education, tuition-free higher education, payment of WAEC fees, STEM and TVET education, renovation of all public universities, investment in faculty profile and welfare, scholarships for local and international studies, support for engineering and science colleges, and effective monitoring and evaluation to ensure quality education, among others, with Boakai’s priorities for education on track.
Bellow is a summary of their Key Findings:
1) The entire education sector had US$98.18 million under Boakai’s predecessor for FY2023. There’s been an upward adjustment of US$7.78 million more. The new budget for education as of FY2024 is US$105.96 million. This is an 8% increase.
2) The Ministry of Education under Boakai’s predecessor had US$41,436,590. Boakai has increased it to US$45,748,456. This is a 9.4% increase.
3) The University of Liberia is up to US$32.48 million for FY2024 from US$30.17 million. This is a US$2.30 million or 7.1% increase under Boakai.
4) William V. S. Tubman University is up to US$5.81 million for FY2024 from US$5.46 million for FY2023. This increase accounts for US$341,803 or 5.8%.
5) Monrovia Consolidated School System (MCSS) is also up to US$4.23 million from US$4.06 million. This increase accounts for US$166,967 or 4%.
6) Booker Washington Institute (BWI) is up to US$1.58 million from US$1.24 million. This increase accounts for US$334,529 or 21.2%.
7) The subsidy to Cuttington University is up to US$155,216 from US$119,996. This is an increase of US$35,220 or 22.7%.
8)The National Commission on Higher Education (NCHE) is up to US$330,394 from US$284,024. This increase accounts for US$46,370 or 14%.
9) Zorzor Rural Teaching Training Institute (ZRTTI) is up from US$458,036 for FY2023 to US$798,793 for FY2024. This increase accounts for US$340,757 or 42.7%.
10) Webbo Rural Teacher Training Institute (WRTT) is up from US$417,341 to US$662,877. This is an increase of US$245,536 or 37%.
11) Kakata Rural Teacher Training Institute (KRTTI) is up to US$1,015,149 for FY2024 from US$678,508. This increase accounts for US$336,641 or 33.2%.
12) Bassa Community College is up US$861,802 from US$753,068. This increase accounts for US$108,734 or 13%.
13) Bomi Community College is up from US$721,520 to US$825,961. This is an increase of US$104,441 or 13%.
14) Nimba Community College is up US$1,523,360 for FY2024 from US$1,439,564 for FY2023. This increase accounts for US$83,796 or 6%.
15) Bong Technical College is up to US$1,511,799 for FY2024 from US$1,031,639. This is an increase of US$480,160 or 32%.
16) Grand Gedeh County Community College is up to US$634,147 for FY2024 from US$449,195 for FY2023. This is an increase of US$184,952 or 29.2%.
17) Harbel Community College is up to US$581,434 from US$447,122. This increase accounts for US$134,312 or 23.2%.
18) Sinoe Community College has increased from US$480,984 to US$614,970. This is an increase of US$133,986 or 22%.
19) Grand Kru Community College has also increased from US$381,794 to US$605,144. This is an increase of US$223,350 or 37%.
20) RiverGee Technical College has increased from US$150,000 to US$257,143. This increase accounts for US$107,143 or 42%.
21) Pleebo College’s budget has increased from US$0 to US$200,000. This is a 100% increase.
22) Agricultural and Industrial Training Bureau is up to US$166,720 from US$139,119. This is an increase of US$27,601 or 17%.
Let’s break this down further than this. Let’s summarize where Boakai’s whopping US$105.96 million will be going or where it will be spent. Entitles that took a substantial share of this US$105.96 million:
1) Ministry of Education – US$45,748,456 (43%)
2) University of Liberia – US$32,481,284 (30%)
3) William V.S. Tubman University – US$5,805,308 (5%)
4) Monrovia Consolidated School System – US$4,229,417 (3.9%)
5) West African Examination Council – US$3,925,624 (3%)
6) Booker T. Washington Institute – US$1,583,556 (1%)
7) Nimba Community College – US$1,523,360 (1%)
8)Bong Technical College – US$1,511,799 (1%)
9) Lofa Community College – US$1,438,927 (1.2%)
10) Kakata Rural Training Institute – US$1,015,149 (0.9%)
11) Others (<$1m) – US$10,926,537 (10%)
12) Total – US$105.96 million (100%)
Data Source: 2014 Draft National Budget (Preface 1.3 and Page 272).
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