The Director-General of the Civil Service Agency, Josiah Joekai, has revealed plans to improve the efficient and effective spending of government on civil servants across the country, saying if ghost names never surfaces on the CSA’s payroll, it will save government about $1.9 million annually.
Mr. Joekai said that the technical consultancy team at the CSA will review and evaluate all terms of reference and consultancy requisitions in keeping with the policy guidelines, evaluate consultancy proposals, keep a full record of the number and type of consultancies providing to spending entities and provide quarterly updates/reports to the consultancy steering committee.
He spoke recently during a special press briefing at the Ministry of Information, Culture Affairs and Tourism in Monrovia expressing that the initiative aims to bring in fresh expertise and perspectives adding that the national consultancy will cut across various spending entities which according to him, will be rolled out in the coming weeks.
Appearing at Ministry of Information, Culture Affairs and Tourism special press briefing in Monrovia, the CSA Director-General Jokai indicated that civil servants will now and for the first time, receive a 50% salary boost as part of the government’s efforts to recognize the hard work and dedication of diligent civil servants.
“Two months ago, the Civil Service Agency and Eco-bank Liberia launched a 50% salary advance scheme for civil servants, this initiative is to motivate all civil servants and those who has account with Eco-bank will be able to take 50% of their salaries,” Joekai added.
Meanwhile, the Director-General of the Civil Service Agency has announced the blockade of several individuals from government ministries and agencies based on a headcount report.
He named the Ministry of States for Presidential Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Liberia National Police, Ministry of Education, and Ministry of Justice among ministries affected by the blockade.
Joekai noted that it will regularize the status of employees for all 103 spending entities who were employed and will provide them with permanent employment and benefits.
Joekai stated that the CSA is developing a credential and integrity audit and background checks policy manual to ensure operational efficiency, mitigate risk, adhere to legal regulations, foster accountability, and standardize credential audits across the 103 spending entities.
The policy manual is expected to be completed by May 29, 2024, and launched two weeks after its completion.
The CSA boss called for resilience in making the change he wants and said that the reform process is coming soon to the civil and public service so that Liberians can benefit from the money saved from illegitimate spending.
