Claim #1: “Education funding has increased to $111 million compared to $92 million in 2023.”
Claim #2: “The Security and Rule of Law Sector has been allocated over $90 million under the 2024 National Budget.
Claim #3: The health sector has received an allocation of $64 million, which includes $7.1 million specifically designated for John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital.”
Source: Abraham D. Dillon
Verdict: Partly True; while there is an increase, some figures are inaccurate.
Full Text: On November 15, 2024, Abraham Darius Dillion, senator of Montserrado County, posted on his Facebook page that Liberia’s 2024 National Budget for Education has increased from $92 million in 2023 to $111 million.
According to him, the increase represents the highest level of budgetary support for education appropriated by the Legislature.
At the time of this fact-check, Dillon’s post garnered significant engagement, receiving 477 reactions, 275 comments, and 40 shares.
Dillon stated that the total allocation for education in 2024 is $111,000,000 (One Hundred Eleven Million Dollars).
Of this amount, the University of Liberia is set to receive $33,000,000 (Thirty-Three Million Dollars) from this budget. He emphasized that this unprecedented increase underscores a strong commitment to enhancing the educational sector, complemented by additional support from various significant donors.
Verification: To authenticate the information, TSM checked the National Budget, and it clarified the claim by showing $111,329,481 in education in 2024.
TSM also found an allocation of $111,329,481 for education in 2024, and the University of Liberia received US$33,481,284.
On claim two, the Montserrado Senator said the security and rule of law sector is set to receive over $90 million in the 2024 National Budget.
Our verification of the sector showed that instead of US$90 million, the sector in 2024 received US$108,012,679.
The sector is made up of the Law Reform Commission, the Judiciary, the Ministry of Justice, the National Security Agency, and the Liberia National Police, among others.
Therefore, the senator’s claim on the rule of law sector budget is partly correct.
He then claimed that the health sector received US$64 million, which includes US$7.1 million specifically earmarked for the John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital, highlighting a comprehensive approach to improving both security and healthcare services in Liberia.
In the health sector, the budget allocated $80,101,200, which is consistent with Dillon’s claim that John F. Kennedy Hospital received approximately $7,172,401.
Conclusion: Based on our research into Dillon’s claims, they are partly true. He correctly noted an increase in education funding but miscalculated the previous year’s figure, which rose from approximately $97 million to $111,329,481 for 2024. His claim about the health sector’s allocation was also incorrect; it should have been around $80 million, not just $64 million. The Security and Rule of Law Sector funding is confirmed at approximately $108 million, exceeding his stated amount.
