MONROVIA – Sweeping reform measures put into place by the Civil Service Agency (CSA) are expected to save up to US$27.9 million and L$450m in three years, holding everything constant.
The disclosure was made by the Director General of the Agency Josiah F. Joekai, Jr. yesterday, Tuesday, during MICAT Press Conference.
Providing highlights of achievements made during the year at the CSA, the Director General said the Agency would save US$8.8m and L$140m in 2025, and US$9.3m and L$50m in 2026. He also said the reform measure would also save US$9.8 and L$160m in government spending in 2027.
For the current year, 2024, the CSA boss said consultancy policy reforms, payroll cleaning and mobile money fraud prevention spared government whopping US$8.3m already.
He noted the CSA identified suspicious payments made to seven agents/businesses, involving 22 transactions totaling US$4,366 and LRD$294,07, and on the annual basis, these payments amount to US$52,392 and LRD$3.5 million.
According to him, the CSA has blocked the names mismatched component and requested the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) to block the entire 7 businesses and individuals who are not on the payroll.
He also indicated that by October 2024, just under 8 months, the workforce had been streamlined from 67,746 employees to 60,900, reducing the government’s monthly wage bill from $23.5 million to $21.1 million.
The cost-saving measure, Mr. Joekai said, demonstrates the transformative impact of the ESRP in terms of enhancing transparency and restoring confidence in the government’s payroll system.
By gathering comprehensive data for 42,076 civil servants and continuing verification for an additional 19,092, the CSA chief also mentioned, that the ESRP significantly improved the accuracy and integrity of the payroll system. The initiative’s accomplishments extend beyond financial savings.
Joekai indicated that this year, 2024, has been a great year for the country and the CSA, a time at which the Agency inherited a broken civil service with a corrupt workforce of 67,746 and an average monthly wage bill of US$23.5 million.
“The workforce was predominantly inefficient and unproductive, with ghost names, double dippers, mismatched names, and individuals who abandoned their jobs but still received salaries,” he divulged.
“The Bank balances were US$191.00 and LRD$10,200.00,” he further noted. “There was no fitting redressal to give civil servants due process or justice and fairness, subjecting them to inhumane treatments and unwarranted dismissals, suspensions, and issuance of warning letters.”
He reported that other employees were demotivated and had low morale, and the workforce was characterized by inefficiencies, irregularities, and gross discrepancies, accounting for the unproductive nature of government spending entities.
“We executed against major objectives, repositioned the institution to be more resilient, responsive, and adaptive to civil servants’ needs, and streamlined several processes to ensure the smooth operation of the public service,” Joekai.
“In the face of many challenges, we remained steadfast, focused, and very collected as the overarching goal of providing impeccable services to all spending entities of the Government of Liberia (GoL) informed our actions.”
National Civil Service Testing Center
Joekai also reported the launch of the National Civil Service Testing Center in 2024, describing it a groundbreaking development in Liberia’s civil service reform efforts.
According to him the state-of-the-art facility, equipped with advanced technology, offers computer-based testing for over 85 civil service roles, revolutionizing recruitment.
Implementing standardized assessments promotes a merit-based approach to hiring, ensuring that recruitment is based on competency, skills, and knowledge rather than subjective criteria or favoritism.
The Testing Center reflects the commitment of the government to transparency, accountability, and professionalism, setting a new standard for public sector recruitment in Liberia.
Through computer-based testing, the CSA aims to enhance fairness and equity in the recruitment process, giving all candidates an equal opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities.
The automated testing system minimizes the potential for bias and error, making identifying qualified individuals for various civil service roles easier.
He said the merit-based approach improves new hires’ quality and reinforces public confidence in the civil service recruitment process.
By prioritizing skill and competency, the CSA boss further said, the Testing Center ensures that Liberia’s civil service attracts and retains genuinely qualified individuals to contribute to the nation’s development.
Establishing the National Civil Service Testing Center represents a transformative step in Liberia’s journey toward a modern, efficient, and accountable civil service for this reporting period.
Fostering a culture of meritocracy not only strengthens Liberia’s public sector but also serves as a model for future reforms across the African continent. This initiative underscores the CSA’s commitment to creating a civil service that is effective, capable, and reflective of the values of transparency, integrity, and excellence.
The also reported that the Government of Liberia, through the CSA, embarked on transformative reforms to optimize the public service workforce, eliminate inefficiencies, and ensure taxpayers’ money is utilized effectively.
These reforms have delivered remarkable results through targeted payroll cleanups, consultancy policy overhauls, and mobile money payment monitoring. See page 6 & 7 of this edition for the full text of CSA’s Year-In-Review Statement Delivered by Josiah F. Joekai, Jr., Director General of the Civil Service at the MICAT Regular Press Briefing on Tuesday, December 17. 2024.
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