By Grace Q. Bryant
The Deputy Commissioner General for Administration at the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS), Elijah Rufus, has announced that the agency has submitted a budget of USD $700,000 to the Ministry of Finance for the training of additional personnel.
According to Rufus, the budget is intended to train 500 additional officers, building on the 182 personnel who underwent specialized in-service training earlier this year under the theme, “LIS: Spirited and Rejuvenated to Serve.”
Speaking at the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs, and Tourism’s regular press briefing on August 8, Rufus disclosed that the LIS leadership will meet with Mr. Anthony Myers, the Acting Minister of Finance and Development Planning, on Tuesday, August 13, 2024, to discuss the proposed budget.
Rufus mentioned that a civil society agency had informed them, after consulting their verification headcount that approximately 300 LIS personnel had reached retirement age.
Based on this, the agency recommended their retirement. However, due to the current manpower limitations, the LIS expressed concerns about replacing these individuals.
“In response to our discussions with the Civil Service Agency, we submitted a training budget to the Ministry of Finance, which has since approved the application process,” Rufus stated.
He further revealed that the application process for new recruits has been opened across all fifteen counties in Liberia and as of now, LIS has received 5,743 applications.
To ensure transparency in the recruitment process, Rufus said the LIS has invited representatives from the Liberia Bar Association, women’s NGOs, the Secretariat, and the Federation of Liberian Youth to participate in the selection process.
These representatives will assist in sorting and shortlisting the applications, and those selected will undergo a mandatory drug test.
“Considering the drug situation in our country, anyone accepted or enlisted into the force will have to pass a drug test,” Rufus emphasized.
He also disclosed that discussions are underway with the Ministry of Defense to use the 14 Military Hospital for conducting these drug tests.
Rufus mentioned that the LIS is coordinating with the Liberia National Identification Registrar and the West African Examinations Council to verify the high school documents and ID cards submitted by applicants.
He noted that if the budget is approved, the training will be conducted at their base in Foya, Lofa County.
