Monrovia, Liberia – The public sector has been inundated with complaints about payroll blotting and extremely low salaries that have depreciated the country’s level of living since President Joseph N. Boakai’s Unity Party government took office. Due to the low salaries generated by the scenario, a typical Liberian family of four is used to eating one meal a day rather than three substantial meals.
However, how will this issue be resolved? During his confirmation hearing before the Senate, the Civil Service Agency’s (CSA) designated Director-General presented reforms, such as a multi-sectoral approach to civil service across agencies, with the goal of enhancing the provision of social services and the civil service in Liberia.
CSA Director-General-designate Josiah F. Jokai has acknowledged that the agency serves as a strategic advisor to the Government of Liberia, offering advice on matters such as organizational structure, staffing strategies, compensation packages, pension plans, and larger human resource development initiatives. Jokai has pledged to dedicate his stewardship at the agency to promoting professionalism, competence, and motivation among civil servants.
He stated that the CSA is essential to guaranteeing that the Liberian civil service is competent, proficient, and responsive to the government’s workforce requirements while continuously providing our country with high-quality and effective services. He also pledged to build on the achievements of the previous administration in order to advance our civil service toward even greater efficacy and efficiency.
But he also mentioned significant obstacles, which he has planned to overcome in order to keep the civil service sustainable.
He did, however, list the difficulties facing the civil service, citing the overlarge payroll as the most pressing issue. According to him, the payroll supports 67,746 workers in 103 organizations, with an alarming average monthly salary bill of US$23 543 874 64.
Designated DG Joekai also mentioned how this financial burden puts a strain on government resources and denies citizens access to essential social services like infrastructure, healthcare, sanitation, and education. Joekai also mentioned how resolving this issue requires swift action to reduce redundancies, streamline the workforce, and allocate resources optimally in order to prioritize our citizens’ most basic needs.
According to him, the Liberian Civil Service’s inability to attract and retain top talent results in underqualified individuals holding important posts. This is because the CSA lacks efficient mechanisms for recruiting, testing, onboarding, and performance management.
Prioritizing the need for a thorough national payroll audit is at the top of his agenda for the CSA. He also stated that in order to accomplish this, he will ask President Boakai for permission to lead the formation of a multi-sectoral committee that includes the Internal Audit Agency (IAA), the General Auditing Commission (GAC), and the Civil Service Agency.
