By Masiame Konneh
Delivering a detailed breakdown of the human resource implications during the Ministry of Information’s regular press briefing on Thursday, the Director General of the Civil Service Agency (CSA), Dr. Josiah F. Joekai, confirmed that the Agency conducted a comprehensive personnel and credential verification exercise at the Ministry of Transport, particularly within the Department of Land and Rail Transport.
The verification exercise assessed workforce composition, credential records, qualification alignment, and divisional distribution ahead of the planned transition to the Liberia Traffic Management Incorporated.
Dr. Joekai disclosed that out of a total workforce of 181 employees, 176 employees, representing 92 percent, were successfully verified and validated as well as fifteen employees, accounting for 8 percent, remain unverified and have been placed on payroll hold pending their appearance before CSA authorities.
“All 176 verified civil servants will be retained within the Ministry workforce. No verified civil servant will lose employment as a result of this reform.” CSA Director General stated.
Providing further details, Dr. Joekai reported that prior to the transition, the Inspectorate Division accounted for 52 percent of the workforce.
This was followed by the Motor Vehicle Division, the Driver License Division, the Tricycle and Motorcycle Division, and administrative staff.
The qualification assessment also revealed that 81 percent of employees were appropriately placed within their roles.
Meanwhile, 10 percent were found to be overqualified for their assigned positions, 7 percent were under qualified, and 2 percent were completely misplaced.
According to the CSA Director General, the reform presents an opportunity to better align employee qualifications with responsibilities, provide professional development where necessary, and modernize personnel management systems across the Ministry.
Dr. Joekai further disclosed that while government leadership had engaged in several hours of dialogue with representatives of concerned employees including a full-day meeting that reached consensus a scheduled follow-up meeting did not take place after employee representatives failed to attend without prior notice.
Describing the development as “unacceptable,” he emphasized that acts of indiscipline that are inconsistent with civil service regulations will not be tolerated noting that reform does not mean chaos stressing that they will protect civil servants, but we will also enforce discipline.
