Government Moves to Verify Credentials of Local Government Employees Nationwide
Daniel Theophilus Cole 
The Civil Service Agency (CSA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government, formerly the Ministry of Internal Affairs, with technical and logistical support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has commenced a nationwide Personnel and Credential Verification Exercise targeting employees of the Ministry of Local Government.
The exercise which began on the March 9, 2026, is part of the Government of Liberia’s ongoing public sector reform agenda aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability, and integrity in the personnel management of the public service. The verification process will confirm the identity, credentials, job placement, and employment status of personnel serving within the Ministry of Local Government structure across the country.
To efficiently implement the exercise, specialized verification teams from the Civil Service Agency have been deployed to four operational regions (Region 1- Gbarpolu, Bomi and Grand Cape, Region 2 – Margibi, Grand Bassa, Rivercess, and Sinoe, Region 3 – Lofa, Bong, and Nimba and Region 3 – Grand Gedeh, Rivergee, Grand Kru and Maryland Counties) spanning fourteen counties, apart from Montserrado County, which has already been verified through a separate verification process due to its unique administrative concentration.
The teams are stationed across the regions, and are expected to remain in the field for ten (10) days, working closely with county administration offices and relevant Ministry of Local Government officials to verify personnel records, professional credentials, and employment documentation.
The verification exercise seeks to achieve several key objectives, including:
• Ensuring that individuals on the Government payroll are duly employed and properly assigned.
• Validating the academic and professional credentials of staff.
• Aligning personnel records with the Government’s human resource management framework; and
• Strengthening payroll integrity and accountability within the decentralized governance structure.
The Civil Service Agency is urging all employees of the Ministry of Local Government within the targeted counties to fully cooperate with the verification teams, and ensure all required documentation, including identification cards, appointment letters, academic credentials, and other relevant employment records are presented.
Speaking before the official commencement of the exercise, the Director General of the Civil Service Agency, Dr. Josiah F. Joekai, Jr., described the verification process as a critical step in Government’s overall broader effort to improve human resource management across spending entities, while also supporting the ongoing transition and institutional strengthening of the Ministry of Local Government.
Dr. Joekai expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Local Government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for institutional collaboration and support during the successful implementation of such important national exercise.
