MONROVIA – The Federation of Liberian Youth (FLY) has initiated a major push to establish a Youth Legislative Caucus at both the House of Representative and Senate up the Capitol.
By Francis G. Boayue
The initiative, supported by the Netherlands Institute of Multiparty Democracy and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on Wednesday, June 10 conducted a one-day working session aimed at “Enhancing Youth Political Participation, Livelihood and Social Accountability in Liberia” among lawmakers of the 55th House of Representative.
Speaking at the event, FLY National President, Ernest Duku Jallah, highlighted a stark demographic disparity within the halls of Liberia’s Capitol Building, noting that while young people make up the overwhelming majority of the population, their representation in the legislature is virtually non-existent.
“A study we conducted reveals that 74.6% of people living in Liberia are under the age of 35,” Mr. Jallah stated.
“Yet, at the legislature, those under 35 represent just about 1%. This creates a disconnect. How does the legislature advance the issues of the Liberian majority when there is no structural bridge?”
According to Mr. Jallah, the proposed Youth Legislative Caucus is envisioned as a non-partisan body within the Legislature dedicated exclusively to championing youth-centric policies.
He clarified that membership would not be strictly limited to young lawmakers, but would welcome any legislator—such as Representatives Alex Noah, Taa Wongbe, Frank Saah Foko, Eugene Kollie and others who have consistently demonstrated a commitment to youth development.
The FLY President noted that the absence of a formal channel has historically forced young people to resort to street protests at the Capitol gates to get their voices heard.
“Instead of always taking to the streets or protesting, if we have our own petitions and concerns, we can take them to the caucus, and they can advance them on the floor of the legislature for us,” Mr. Jallah explained, adding that the caucus would also represent the interests of the student community, including institutions like the University of Liberia.
The idea of a youth caucus is not entirely new to the Liberian Legislature. Jallah revealed that a similar effort was launched in April 2017 with the backing of lawmakers including Representatives Fofana, Mansaray, and Williams.
While the plenary generically endorsed the concept at the time, leadership transitions and internal political shifts at the House of Representatives caused the momentum to stall.
The current working session brought stakeholders together to review, debate and adapt the basic rules and governance structure of the caucus before resubmitting them to the Chief Clerk.
A key point of debate during the session remained determining the exact age limit for caucus members.
“Once these rules are adapted and the governance structure is agreed upon, we will resubmit them to the Chief Clerk for formal promulgation into the House rules, followed by an official launch,” Mr. Jallah said.
Mr. Jallah announced that the UN Youth office is slated to officially open in Liberia soon, and alongside UNFPA, will provide critical support and capacity-building for the caucus.
Following the official launch, FLY plans to host a broader stakeholder engagement involving major donor partners to draft and present a comprehensive “Youth Legislative Agenda.”
Also facilitating the session was Honorable Steve Tequah, Chairman of the House Committee on Youth and Sports. Representative Tequah threw his weight behind the initiative, outlining the institutional framework required to make the caucus functional.
“The Youth Legislative Caucus shall serve as a platform for lawmakers to advocate for the interests and concerns of Liberia’s youth population within the legislative process,” Representative Tequah affirmed.
He emphasized that the primary objectives of the caucus will strictly focus on promoting inclusive governance, advancing youth empowerment, and tackling the structural crises confronting young Liberians—specifically education, unemployment, health and civic engagement.
With the draft rules currently undergoing a line-by-line review by student leaders and youth advocates, FLY and its partners are optimistic that the formalization of the Youth Legislative Caucus will mark a turning point for inclusive governance in Liberia.
