By Monrovia, Liberia–The Executive Director of the National Identification Registry Andrew Peters has vowed to file a writ of prohibition against President Joseph N. Boakai for what he termed as wrongful appointment of Dr. Edward Liberty as the next Executive Director of NIR.
The National Identification Registry is an autonomous agency within the Executive Branch of the Government of Liberia. It was created by an Act of the National Legislature in 2011 to address double dipping, illegal migration and other frauds resulting from impersonation and identity theft.
The institution has a statutory mandate to “design, produce, and issue biometric cards, each with a unique identifying number to be called a Social Security Number, to be the primary government approved identity number (for registration of birth, death, passports, immigrant documents, bank accounts, Driver’s License, social security benefits, and other identification documents.
Addressing a News conference on Tuesday February 20, 2024, the NIR Boss explained that the Act that solidifies the institution gives the Board of Registrars the legitimate right to appoint the Executive Director, who shall serve a tenure of Four (4) years.
It can be recalled, President Joseph N. Boakai appointed Dr. Edward Liberty as Executive Director and Alphanso Belleh as Deputy Executive Director of Administration on Monday, February 19, 2024.
Mr. Andrew Peters argued that the President’s action contravenes the law and as such he’s seeking legal redress through the court system.
His assertions is stemmed from Part (5), section 5.3 of the 2011 act of legislation which established the National Identification Registry which states” the Executive Director shall be appointed by the Board of Registrars and shall have a term of four (4)years; and shall be eligible for reappointment”.
The Outgoing NIR’s boss intimated that he was unanimously endorsed and appointed to serve as Executive Director of the National Identification Registry of Liberia through a resolution convened on ( June 22, 2023).
Meanwhile, the NPP Stalwart is calling on supporters of his party to remain kind as his lawyers are working out modalities to ensure they seek redress from the justice system of the country.
By: Domingo Dargbeh
