The Civil Service Agency, (CSA) has revealed plans to block 6,811 names on its payroll. The decision will affect different government institutions nationwide.
Director General, Josiah Joekai told a news conference on Wednesday May 22, 2024, that these civil servants will be blocked for overstaying on sick leave, school leave, among other reasons that suggest they are ghosts.
He said in March this year, CSA blocked about 122 persons from the ghost list, who had been paid through different banks, and 127 who were paid through mobile money.
Director Joekai indicated that he appreciates the strategic partnership at the agency, which he said helps to promote the kind of things that will change misconceptions about its workings.
According to him, the process has identified and analyzed how much government is losing to ghost names for which they will work with the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs to verified individuals and blocked them immediately. However, he said this process does not include those on foreign status.
Director Joekai noted that they are trying to bring employees to national system programs where institutions will be prevented from paying employees in their own system but instead used the system’s payment method.
This, he said, will affect around nine ministries which began recently with the Ministry of Information, Liberia Broadcasting System and will be followed by the National Bureau of Concession and Governance Commission.
Just in 2023 alone, Joekai disclosed that the government lost US$6.1 million to consultancy.
According to him, they have conducted an assessment on consultants to identify the gaps with some terms of reference and a requisition because some consultants were not doing the work being paid for.
The CSA boss disclosed the launch of the Salary Advancement Program with Eco Bank where civil servants will be able to get up to 50% of their salary at any time to pay back in 30 days with the lowest 3% interest rates.
He believes that this program will save employees from borrowing money from individuals at rates as high as 10%, 14%, 20%, and 25%. The CSA Director General pledged the entity’s resilience to reform public service.
