By: Cooper K. Sangar Jr.
MONROVIA – The Civil Service Agency (CSA) has released Phase One of its Personnel and Credential Verification Reports for three government entities, uncovering significant discrepancies between credentials and salary allocations.
This follows the CSA’s recent launch of a government-wide Credential and Payroll Audit designed to promote transparency and accountability in the public sector.
The audit’s first phase included the House of Representatives (HoR), the Monrovia Consolidated School System (MCSS), and the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA).
Presenting the findings at a Wednesday press conference in Congo Town, CSA Director General Josiah Joekai revealed concerning inconsistencies in personnel records submitted by these entities.
At the House of Representatives, 691 employees were reportedly listed, but only 589 (85.2%) were verified.
The remaining 102 employees—14.7% of the original roster—could not be confirmed. Of the 589 verified employees: 309 hold only a high school diploma, 42 are past retirement age, 60 have no formal qualifications and 18 possess graduate-level degrees
Following the findings, Joekai announced that accounts for individuals without attendance records have been blocked, and efforts are underway to reclassify unqualified employees to align their salaries with their credentials.
He emphasized, “We noted individuals hired as Budget Analysts with only a high school diploma. They must either accept a new role or leave.”
The audit also identified: Misplaced qualifications within both the MCSS and the House of Representatives, a disproportionate number of administrative versus technical staff, at NaFAA, average absenteeism in February stood at 1.80 days for females and 2.06 days for males, at the MCSS, discrepancies between reported and confirmed staff—along with volunteers—and issues in record-keeping and attendance tracking
To address these issues, Director General Joekai stressed the importance of accurate record-keeping, attendance tracking, and systemic reforms aimed at improving efficiency, meritocracy, and financial integrity.
“By correcting these issues,” he noted, “these organizations can enhance transparency, accountability, and efficiency in their operations.”
