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By Amos Harris
The Civil Service Agency (CSA) has reached a significant milestone in its mission to enhance transparency and accountability within Liberiaβs public sector. On Friday, May 8, 2026, the agency presented a comprehensive Personnel and Credential Verification Report to the Ministry of Local Government (MLG). This landmark presentation also featured the unveiling of a new Human Resources Digital System on Personnel Management, a move officials believe will drastically improve efficiency, productivity, and institutional credibility.
The nationwide verification exercise was initiated in December 2025 following a formal request from the Ministry of Local Government, which was then known as the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The process began in Montserrado County and expanded to the remaining fourteen counties by February 2026. Conducted over 24 days under the leadership of CSA Director-General Dr. Josiah F. Joekai Jr., the exercise targeted the Ministryβs entire workforce across the country.
During the presentation in Monrovia, Dr. Joekai revealed that of the 4,724 employees targeted, 3,325 individualsβrepresenting 70 percent of the workforceβwere successfully verified. However, 1,381 employees, or approximately 29 percent, failed to complete the process. Dr. Joekai characterized the initiative as a critical intervention designed to eliminate irregularities and restore public confidence in the national payroll system.
The report highlights a pressing need for systemic reform. Findings indicated that civil servants make up 37.5 percent of the workforce, while appointed officials on the payroll account for 32.9 percent. An additional 830 employees are categorized as Special Case Appointees slated for enrollment into the national system. Despite 18 employees providing legitimate excuses via the Ministryβs Excuse Ledger, nearly three out of every ten workers remained unverified.
The audit uncovered deep-seated weaknesses in documentation. Many personnel files lacked basic requirements such as employment letters, academic credentials, recommendation letters, and national identification. Dr. Joekai warned that such a fragile documentation system undermines workforce planning and necessitates immediate corrective action.
Attendance irregularities were also a major focus of the report. The CSA identified 474 cases of violation, leading to recommendations for 77 salary deductions, 305 suspensions without pay, and 92 dismissals. These findings point to broader challenges regarding productivity and efficiency that the Ministryβs leadership must now address.
Qualification data presented a sobering picture of the Ministry’s current capacity. The report disclosed that 1,160 employees possess no academic or professional credentials, and 290 hold only high school diplomas. The higher education brackets remain thin, with only 156 Bachelorβs degrees, 12 Masterβs degrees, and a single PhD recorded across the entire Ministry. Consequently, Dr. Joekai emphasized the need for an aggressive national capacity-building program.
Gender disparity remains another significant challenge. The analysis showed that men dominate 69.94 percent of civil service roles and nearly 90 percent of appointed positions. Furthermore, the report found that 18 percent of the workforce requires immediate human resource interventionβincluding reclassification or redeploymentβdue to issues with overqualification, under-qualification, or misplacement.
Regarding workforce sustainability, the CSA identified 406 employees who have reached retirement age and another 411 approaching it. In a stern move toward enforcement, Dr. Joekai announced the immediate blocking of the 1,381 unverified employees from the payroll. These individuals have 30 days to appear for verification or face permanent removal.
Dr. Joekai expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Local Government and the United Nations Development Programme for their support, noting that this exercise aligns with the CSA’s mandate to modernize all 109 government spending entities. Accepting the report, Minister of Local Government Hon. F. Sakila Nyumalin commended the CSA for its professionalism and stated that the findings would serve as a vital guide for future policy reforms. The ceremony was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Education and the Governance Commission, who joined in applauding this step toward a more accountable public service.
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