Monrovia, Liberia – December 27 2017: President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has issued Executive Order No. 91 – establishing the Joint Presidential Transition Team of 2017.
According to an Executive Mansion release, “Whereas the Constitution and laws of Liberia do not provide the protocol and mechanisms for the orderly transfer of power from one democratically elected President to another democratically elected President”;
Executive Order No. 91 notes – “Whereas Liberia has not experienced the transfer of power from one democratically elected President to another democratically elected President for over 70 years; whereas there is a need to develop appropriate protocol and mechanisms for the smooth transfer of power from one democratically elected President to another”; and
The Executive Order furthered whereas systems and mechanisms have to be put in place for the management and coordination of the transition of power from the incumbent President to the incoming President.
“Now therefore, I, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of the Republic of Liberia, by virtue of the power and authority vested in me pursuant to Chapter Two, Article 5(c) of the Constitution of the Republic Liberia (1986), hereby issue this Executive Order to be called the Presidential Transition Executive Order”.
SECTION 1. PURPOSE
The purpose of this Executive Order is to establish mechanisms for the proper management and orderly transfer of executive power from this current administration to the incoming President.
Section 2.NAME AND COMPOSITION OF THE TRANSITION TEAM:
A Transition Team is hereby established to be called the Joint Presidential Transition Team (JPTT).
a. Composition: The President of Liberia shall appoint fifteen (15) persons to the Joint Presidential Transition Team and they shall be as follows: 1) The Minister of State for Presidential Affairs; 2) The Minister of Justice; 3) The Minister of Foreign Affairs; 4) The Minister of Finance and Development Planning; 5) The Governor of the Central Bank of Liberia; 6) The Minister of Internal Affairs; 7) The Minister of National Defense; and 8) the Director of the Executive Protective Service; 9) The Minister of Information, Culture & Tourism; and others members to be appointed at the discretion of the incumbent President.
b. The Director General of the Cabinet shall be the Secretary of the JPTT.
c. The President-Elect shall appoint fifteen (15) persons to the JPTT, all of whom must be Liberian citizens. A sitting member of the Cabinet may be preferred. The President-Elect shall name his/her appointees to the JPTT not later than twenty-four (24) hours after the declaration of the President-Elect by the National Elections Commission (NEC).
d. The President and the President-Elect shall be co-chairpersons of the JPTT. They may designate any member of the JPTT to act as a Co-Chairperson in their absence.
e. Decisions of the JPTT shall be made by consensus and any disagreement shall be resolved by the President and President-Elect, acting jointly.
SECTION 3. DURATION:
The JPTT shall commence its functions and exercise the powers and authority granted by this Executive Order no later than forty-eight hours after the declaration of the President-Elect by the NEC. It shall cease to function after the publication of its Final Report which shall be no later than January 31, 2018.
SECTION 4. FUNCTIONS AND POWERS OF THE JPTT:
The following shall be the functions and powers of the JPTT:
a. Formulate guidelines and policies to govern the transition;
b. Ensure the provision of regular national security briefing for the President-Elect during the period commencing immediately upon the constitution of the JPTT by the incumbent President and the President-Elect;
c. Ensure that every lawful step is taken to promote the orderly transition from the incumbent President to the President-Elect;
d. Liaise with all government agencies to ensure the effective provision of services and facilities in pursuance of this Executive Order;
SECTION 5.MEETINGS AND REPORT OF THE JPTT
a. The President shall call the first meeting of the JPTT within forty-eight (48) hours after the declaration of the President elect by the NEC.
b. Every meeting of the JPTT, after its first meeting shall be convened by the President and the President-elect jointly, or their designees.
Section 6. FUNDING AND SUPPORT OF THE JOINT PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITION TEAM:
a. Immediately upon constitution of the JPTT, the President shall authorize the reallocation of resources and assets to support its operations and the provisions contained herein.
b. The appointees of the President to the JPTT, who are executive of the Liberian Government and receiving salaries and emoluments up to the end of the mandate of the JPTT, shall not be entitled to any additional compensation for their services.
c. The appointees of the President and President-Elect to the JPTT, who are not public servants, shall be paid honorarium as shall be decided by the President and President-Elect.
SECTION 7. SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED TO THE PRESIDENT-ELECT AND VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT
The JPTT shall ensure that services are provided to the President-Elect and Vice President-Elect, which shall include office facilities, logistics, transportation, travel allowances, communication services, daily briefing and other services and benefits.
SECTION 8.SURRENDER OF ASSETS ANDSERVICES TO BE PROVIDED TO THE INCUMBENT PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT
The incumbent President and the Vice President shall vacate their official offices and official residences on or before Inauguration Day. Notwithstanding this provision, the JPTT shall ensure that services are provided to them which shall include, but not limited to, two vehicles and chauffeur each, VIP Protection (EPS and Police Services), logistics, allowances, other benefits and services to be determined by the JPTT.
SECTION 9. NON-TENURED PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTEES
Non-tenured presidential appointees shall be presumed to have resigned as of the date of inauguration. Notwithstanding, such officials shall continue to function until their successors have been nominated, confirmed, appointed and commissioned. This Executive Order shall take immediate effect.
President Sirleaf Issues Standing Executive Order: Suspends Payments, Incentives to Board of Directors, Managing Directors, Deputies…
Monrovia, Liberia: President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has: “Given the current financial and economic situation of the Country, all payments of bonuses, severance allowance, and incentives to members of the Board of Directors, Managing Directors, Deputy Managing Directors, and all other Officials of similar standing, in the employ of the State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), Commissions, and other Autonomous Agencies of the Government of Liberia (GOL), are hereby suspended with immediate effect”.
According to an Executive mansion release: “Additionally, all expenditures, save for salaries and allowances, for the daily operations of all Government Ministries and the above mentioned institutions, in the amount Ten Thousand United States (US$10,000) Dollars and above must be approved by the Office of the President”.
The Standing executive Oder furthered: “Accordingly, all Ministers, Heads of SOEs, Commissions, and Autonomous Agencies of GOL are hereby advised to take due cognizance and give effect to this directive”.
“Dated on the 20th day of December 2017 in the City of Monrovia, Republic of Liberia” – the Standing Executive Order signed by President Sirleaf concluded.
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