CSA Boss Joekai Reveals Plans to Incorporate Volunteer Teachers, Health Workers on Gov't Payroll

MONROVIA, LIBERIA: The Director General of the Civil Service Agency (CSA), Josiah Joekai, has provided lawmakers with a detailed update on the status of volunteer teachers and health workers, highlighting what he described as a coordinated effort among the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, the CSA, and key line ministries to clean up and stabilize the government payroll.

Appearing before the House of Representatives during its 6th Day sitting of the 3rd Quarter, Joekai said the partnership with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health is aimed at ensuring that all legitimate personnel actions are verified and properly captured in the national payroll system.

“We are working collectively to ensure accuracy, accountability, and fairness in the management of government employment and compensation,” he told Plenary.

On the other hand, the CSA Boss disclosed that the Ministry of Education submitted 2,148 Personnel Action Notices (PANs), all of which were reviewed and validated by the Civil Service Agency.

“These 2,148 volunteer teachers have now been placed on the government payroll,” he said, noting that a few payments were delayed because of errors in bank account information submitted by some applicants.

He further reported that the Ministry of Health submitted 1,879 PANs for volunteer health workers. According to him, 1,050 were initially added to the payroll, while another 450 were included in December, bringing the total number of health workers paid to 1,500. “The remaining 329 are scheduled to be integrated in February,” Dr. Joekai informed lawmakers.

The CSA Director General also explained that to prevent volunteers from going unpaid while awaiting full integration, the Ministry of Finance created a temporary special payroll arrangement.

However, he stressed that the government’s long-term goal is to eliminate all supplementary payrolls. “Our objective is a single, unified national payroll that is transparent and sustainable,” he emphasized.

Josiah Joekai revealed that a total of 3,406 volunteers nationwide are currently on the payroll, including teachers of the Monrovia Consolidated School System.

He added that challenges with bank account details at the Ministry of Internal Affairs are being resolved, with both Liberian dollar and U.S. dollar accounts now being accepted and reconciled.

He also told Plenary that an additional 2,396 volunteers are awaiting processing, with county-by-county data already submitted to the CSA. “We are carefully reviewing the 2,396 PANs received in December to facilitate their possible inclusion on the payroll,” he said.

Joakai at the same time called for sustained financial commitment to fully absorb volunteers into the government workforce.

“Without adequate funding, it is difficult for the Ministry of Finance to create new allotments, but we remain committed to working transparently with all stakeholders to bring this process to a successful conclusion,” the CSA Boss assured lawmakers.