Liberia’s Administrative Awakening: 40,000 Unlawful Civil Servants Exposed
The Liberian government has uncovered a startling revelation: more than 40,000 individuals serving as illegal civil servants within its system. According to Josiah Joekai, the director general of the Civil Service Agency (CSA), these individuals’ details were either inaccurately entered or entirely omitted from the mandatory Personnel Action Notice (Pan) process, which is essential for employment validation.
With a total of approximately 70,000 civil servants in Liberia, Mr. Joekai disclosed that over half of them are currently operating unlawfully due to their failure to undergo the Pan process. This procedure involves thorough evaluation and credential verification before individuals are officially enlisted in the government employment registry.
What’s particularly alarming is the revelation that some individuals were added to the civil service payroll through informal means such as text messages, phone calls, emails, and even WhatsApp communications between the years 2019 and 2023.
In response to this systemic issue, the CSA has announced a 90-day grace period for affected individuals to rectify their employment status by completing the proper registration process. Failure to comply within this timeframe will result in termination.
President Joseph Boakai’s administration has underscored its commitment to streamlining the government workforce by addressing what it perceives as a bloated payroll and reducing the overall government wage bill. The government aims to achieve a smaller yet more efficient public service through these measures.
However, the reception of this initiative among the Liberian population remains uncertain. While it seeks to enhance efficiency and accountability within the civil service, the abrupt dismissal of thousands of employees and the restructuring of government operations may evoke mixed reactions among citizens.
