Liberian Senate-March 9, 2022; The Plenary of the Liberian Senate has mandated the Committee on Autonomous Commission and Agency to launch an inquiry into the delay by the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS) to conduct the National Census and report within one week for Plenary’s action.

According to a release from the Press and Public Affairs Department of the Senate, Plenary decision on Tuesday, March 8, 2022 was predicated by a communication from Senator Numene T.H. Bartekwa of Grand Kru County.

In his communication, Senator Bartekwa raised concernsC about LISGIS Conspicuous silence and delay to conduct the National Census as was scheduled for March of this year.

He asserted that the importance of census in the developmental process of every country cannot be over emphasized especially considering that Liberia is on the pathway to a critical period of Presidential and Legislative Elections.

Senator Bartekwa further stressed that the time of a National Census cannot be decided without the knowledge of the Legislature.

“If there is any further postponement for the conduct of the census, it must obtain the blessing of the Legislature” he added.

Since the last population Census in 2008, Liberia has never had any Census. The 2018 National Population and Housing Census was delayed to 2022 March due to COVID-19.

In line with Chapter five Article 39 of the 1986 Constitution, the Legislature shall cause a census of the Republic to be undertaken every ten years.