The Government of Liberia has moved to clarify the status of 40,000 civil servants, amidst an ongoing review process.
Contrary to fears of massive layoffs, Presidential Press Secretary, Kula V. Fofana, assured the public that the government’s focus is on rectifying discrepancies in employment records, rather than termination.
The clarification comes in the wake of revelations by the Civil Service Agency (CSA) regarding the presence of over 40,000 illegal civil servants, sparking apprehension and uncertainty among the workforce.
Fofana, speaking at the Executive Mansion in Monrovia, emphasized that the review process aims to address errors in personnel records, rather than initiate massive layoffs.
She underscored the importance of proper procedures in becoming a civil servant and urged affected individuals to follow approved protocols for seeking redress.
The concerns arose following CSA Director General, Josiah Joekai’s disclosure of widespread irregularities in the civil service payroll system, with over 50 percent of civil servants deemed illegal due to incomplete or incorrect PAN processes. Joekai disclosed the alarming discovery that some individuals were added to the government payroll via unconventional means, such as text messages, phone calls, and emails, highlighting systemic deficiencies in the employment registration process.
In response to these revelations, the Liberian Government announced a grace period of 90 days for affected civil servants to rectify their status through proper registration procedures. Failure to comply will result in termination, as the government seeks to uphold transparency and accountability in its workforce management.
As the review process unfolds, stakeholders await further updates on the outcomes of the audit, and the measures to be taken to ensure the integrity of the civil service. Amidst these developments, the government remains committed to fair and transparent governance, prioritizing the interests of both civil servants and the public at large.
