By Grace Q. Bryant
The Civil Service Agency (CSA) says some 216 government officials salary have been placed on hold for February 2025.
The move is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to enforce compliance with asset declaration laws.
Announcing the decision on Thursday at the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs, and Tourism, CSA Director-General Josiah Joekai disclosed that the suspensions stemmed from a presidential mandate issued on February 12, 2025, instructing the removal of over 457 officials who failed to declare their assets.
Among the suspended officials, two serve in the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs, 198 are from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and three are from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Officials from other government institutions, including the Governance Commission, Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC), Liberia Land Authority, Ministry of Justice, Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Ministry of National Defense, have also been affected.
Joekai did not delve in disclosing individual names, but emphasized that the measure aimed to uphold transparency and accountability within the public sector.
“Any official affected by this decision will not receive their February salary unless they fulfill the required obligations,” he restated.
He urged all suspended officials to promptly declare their assets with the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) and obtain clearance from the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs to be reinstated on the payroll.
“Once these steps are completed, officials will be reinstated on the government payroll,” he assured.
Joekai also revealed that the suspension of the 216 officials from the payroll has resulted in savings of approximately US$104,000.73, which will be deposited into a designated account.
He noted that so far, US$14,000.73 has already been transferred, with additional updates expected as the process continues.
The CSA is coordinating with the Bureau of State Enterprises to assess the total savings generated by the initiative.
Joekai further stated that a full report would be submitted to President Boakai for a decision on how the funds should be utilized.
In addition to enforcing payroll integrity, the CSA has also made strides in managing the government’s retirement system.
Joekai announced that nearly 500 retired employees have been successfully enrolled in the national pension system, with some already receiving benefits as of January 2025.
The agency has also addressed a backlog of retirees who had not received their entitlements, ensuring their inclusion in the national pension payroll.
“Moving forward, the CSA will remove retired employees from the national payroll once they are fully enrolled in the pension system and exclude employees who refuse to participate in the retirement process while allowing them to complete the necessary procedures to access their pension benefits,” he disclosed.
Joekai reaffirmed the government’s commitment to maintaining a transparent and accountable payroll system while ensuring that all eligible retirees receive their rightful benefits.