MONROVIA, The House of Representatives’ Joint Committee on Ways, Means and Finance says it has uncovered an additional fifty-one million US Dollars during the recent budget hearing.

Presenting its initial report, the Committee’s Chair, Representative Dixon Seboe, said:” The additional funding will be spread across priority areas.”

Representative Seboe said five-point-five million has been added to the Health Ministry’s budget from its initial seventy-five million to eighty-point-five million and an additional ten million to the budget of the Education Ministry.

Representative Seboe said:” Though not captured in the National Budget, the Committee allotted three million for Beach and Waterways Project and an additional three million to the rehabilitation of At-Risk-Youth.”

The Committee also added four million to the current budget of the Armed Forces of Liberia.

The current National Budget now stands at over 743 million US Dollars.

Still at the Capitol, the House of Representatives has passed a crucial vote, amending Chapter 10 of the Liberia Revenue Code of 2009.

Recently, the Executive wrote the National Legislature seeking its approval to adopt the Value Added Tax (VAT) to replace the existing goods and services tax regime.

The amendment is in support of Liberia’s commitment to a regional fiscal integration program and to improve its tax system.

The Committee’s report also added that the adoption of the Revenue Code will catalyze improving tax compliance and maximizing revenue generation.

Meanwhile, the communication is expected to be sent to the Liberian Senate for concurrence.

By: Emmanuel Kollie