Full Text of Speech Delivered by Newly Elected Speaker J. Nagbe Koon

Today, as I stand before you, I am deeply honored and profoundly grateful for the trust you have placed in me. This moment is not just about me; it represents a collective dream, a hopeful vision for a brighter future that will see the House of Representatives in particular and the Liberian Legislature in general arising anew. Together, we have taken a monumental step toward the change we seek in legislative governance and democratic pluralism within legislative politics—a change rooted in our shared values, aspirations, and commitment to doing the work of the Republic of Liberia in a people-centered manner.

As we look around us today, we see that our current governance systems and institutions are faced with a multiplicity of quagmires; the issues of inequities, dire commitments to political cleavages and sectarian politics that divide us, inefficiencies and inadequacies that discourage us, and the critical logjams that dampen our collective potentials for growth and progress. However, I want to encourage you to remain steadfast and hopeful. As an integral part of the whole, I witnessed and participated in the struggles that landed us here today. Now that I am the Speaker of the honorable House of Representatives of the 55th National Legislature barely eleven months into the tenure of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, I am committed to working with you-all of you to achieve your shared hopes and dreams. I am sternly dedicated to facing these challenges head-on with honesty, integrity, and relentless determination with the wholeness of my being.

My promise to you is simple yet significant. It is as well a promise keenly anchored on and deeply rooted in what has now become a part of the challenges that have dawned on me today. I will lead with a spirit of reform. We will work together to transform our policies and practices, to ensure that they serve everyone, not just a privileged few. This is about creating an inclusive legislative culture that encompasses every voice, embraces every honorable member and mobilizes the support of every district or constituency represented within the hallowed chamber(s) of the House of Representatives.

Together, we will undertake the hard but necessary work of reforming our systems, with transparency and accountability at the core of our interventions. We will invest in the happiness of every member and every staff who serves us in the onerous execution of the triangulated functions required of us—the business of representation, lawmaking and oversight, whilst at the same time multitasking and creating innovative ways of doing the people’s work. In today’s world where technology has become a critical and unavoidable component of leadership and governance, we will equally invest critically but strategically in the modernization of the legislature-I mean modernization in its truest meaning and all its ramifications.

We take full cognizance in the fact that our three branches of government are separate and therefore promise to uphold that spirit, thereby allowing no interferences whatsoever! The legislature will be the legislature under our watch. Together, we will shift our own paradigms, determine our priorities, set and pursue our strategic goals and objectives in the best interest of the people who are the custodians of the authorities we exercise today.

At the same time, we are not oblivious of the fact that as much as the Liberian Constitution requires us to be separate, it also provides the three branches of our government the leverage and opportunity to coordinate in the spirit of nationhood and oneness of purpose. Therefore, as we assume the mantle of authority as the leader of the Legislative Branch of the Government of the Republic of Liberia, we will coordinate very closely but meticulously with the other two branches, ensuring that the legislative proposals or instruments of the government are expeditiously enacted. We are aware of the emergencies surrounding us; the country’s roads and infrastructures are in ruins, the healthcare delivery system is crying out for rescue, the education sector continues to suffer paralysis and the economy is seriously yearning for innovative ways of revival. This means that unless we act as a matter of urgency, we cannot imagine what will happen in the near future. All of these critical issues and many other aspects of concern to our people, partners and friendly governments, need our urgent interventions. In the spirit of coordination therefore, we will work with President Joseph Nyuma Boakai to ensure that these fundamental issues are addressed as expeditiously as they would be necessary and possible.

Distinguished Colleagues, reform cannot be achieved by one person alone. It requires a radical movement—a collective effort that unites us. We invite each and every member of the legislature to join us in this journey. Share your ideas, your experiences, and your visions for a reformed and independent legislature that is readily responsive to the needs of our people. Let’s build an open dialogue where we can discuss our challenges and celebrate our victories together.

I stand here not just as your leader but as your partner in this journey. Together, we will not shy away from the difficult conversations, the tough decisions, and the unwavering commitment that reform demands. Together, we will face the obstacles, and together we will emerge stronger.

Let us be guided by hope, inspired by our shared humanity, and motivated by our vision for change. The road ahead may be long, but let us walk it together, hand in hand, forging a future that reflects the best of who we are.

Thank you for your trust, your support, and your commitment to reforming the Liberian Legislature. Together, we will make this vision a reality.

Thank you!