The Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon. F. Sakila Nyumalin Sr., on Thursday convened and chaired the Third Quarterly Sitting of the National Council of Chiefs (NCC) in keeping with the Local Government Act of 2018. The meeting was focused on reviewing the achievements and activities of the Council over the past under review.

During the session, one key suggestion that was made by chiefs was a called on national government through the Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon. F. Sakila Nyumalin is calling on His Excellency President Joseph Nyuma Boakai support the conduct local chieftaincy elections across the country. They emphasized that such elections would add value to traditional leadership structures and strengthen the role of chiefs in local governance.

The chiefs further recommended that the Legislature put in place a system to control trucking during electoral processes.

They also underscored the urgent need to convene a National Peace and Reconciliation Conference to foster unity nationwide.

Minister Nyumalin informed the chiefs that a joint team from the Civil Service Agency (CSA) and partners will soon begin a verification and credentials exercise in the counties. Upon completion of this exercise, chiefs who are not on payroll could start receiving salaries in keeping with CSA standards. “I have already met with the Minister of Finance and Development Planning, and I made it clear that we must dignify our chiefs by ensuring they receive their due entitlements,” the Minister stated.

As part of government’s commitment to strengthening traditional governance, the Minister disclosed that the National Government has agreed to renovate the headquarters of the National Council of Chiefs, located at Camp Johnson Road and McDonald Street in Monrovia during the fiscal budget year 2026.

The Minister of Internal Affairs also disclosed that there are plans to organize a National Assembly of Chiefs, to be chaired by H.E. President Joseph Nyuma Boakai and such gathering would provide a platform for the President to directly engage and interact with traditional leaders where they could make meaningful suggestions for the smooth governance of their respective chiefdoms and the country.

The National Assembly of Chiefs would conclude its sitting with a resolution to be submitted to the President for necessary action.

The next sitting of the Council is expected to be convene in December 2025 holding all factors constant.

The meeting was attended by National Council of Chiefs Chairpersons from all 15 counties. Speaking on behalf of the paramount chiefs, Paramount Chief Nelson Neon of Maryland County expressed gratitude to President Boakai for his continuous leadership and commitment to national development. He reaffirmed the chiefs’ full support for the government’s development agenda.