The Government of Liberia has announced the temporary suspension of 6,387 individuals from its payroll. According to the report, effective September 2, 2024, this action comes as part of a broader reform initiative led by the Civil Service Agency (CSA) and the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP).
A JOINT CIRCULAR MEMORANDUM by the Civil Service Agency (CSA) and the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), dated Wednesday, August 29, 2024, states: “As part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring transparency and accountability in the utilization of public finance, the Government of Liberia, through the Civil Service Agency (CSA) and the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), will implement significant payroll reform measures. Effective September 2, 2024, 6,387 individuals who remain unverified on the national payroll will be temporarily blocked, pending a two-month verification from September 2 to November 4, 2024.”
With this: the government says this blocking section is a crucial step toward rectifying past oversights and safeguarding the integrity of the Government’s payroll system.
The individuals affected by this suspension have reportedly consistently failed to participate in mandatory payroll verification processes, including the General Auditing Commission’s (GAC) Payroll Compliance Audit conducted in 2021 and a subsequent 90-day post-audit verification exercise.
The CSA says the previous administration’s inaction regarding the Auditor General’s recommendations has led to significant financial losses for the government. Reports suggest that millions of dollars may have been disbursed monthly and annually to “ghost workers”—non-existent employees who have been improperly included on the payroll.
The Auditor General previously recommended that the Office of the Comptroller and Accountant General (CAG) impose a moratorium on salaries for all employees who were not verified during the physical verification exercises and for whom no legitimate excuses were provided. This recommendation has now been put into effect, with the temporary blocking of unverified individuals serving as a critical step toward rectifying past oversights and protecting the integrity of the government’s payroll system.
The verification process will take place over the next two months, from September 2 to November 4, 2024. During this time, the government will work diligently to ensure that only verified and legitimate employees are reinstated to the payroll.
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