-Lawmakers Threaten CSA Boss Vote of Confidence
By Jerromie S. Walters
During his appearance before the House of Representatives, the Director General of the Civil Service Agency (CSA) highlighted a significant discrepancy in payroll figures, revealing that the original payroll for the House of Representatives was USD 284,401.05, while a new payroll submitted for approval totaled USD 327,643. This variance of USD 43,241.05 indicates an increase in staffing within the Central Administration.
House Speaker J. Fonati Koffa has been accused by his critics of overloading the House of Representatives payroll through the recruitment of his fellow partisans from the opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC). Since his ascendancy to the Speakership, Over three new departments have been added to the workforce at the House of Representatives. One of which includes budget, which includes ex-officials of the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning.
At a news conference on Tuesday, August 6, 2024, Rep. Marvin Cole, Chair of the House Committee on Rules, Order, and Administration of the House of Representatives of the 55th Legislature of Liberia, dismissed the allegations made by Mr. Josiah Joekai, regarding discrepancies in payroll documentation for Central Administration staff. Considering what he sees as Mr. Joekai’s demeaning attitude toward the House, Representative Cole disclosed an imminent vote of no confidence in Mr. Joekai by the House.
Representative Cole emphasized that, as part of its comprehensive reform policy, the House engaged the independent auditing firm APEX to conduct a thorough audit ofpayroll and personnel records. “Now, let me say this to you. Maybe this is the misinformation. The House of Representatives doesn’t have two payrolls. We met a payroll of 776 with a huge disparity. One Acckunctabt on this payroll is making one thousand eight hundred with a qualification of BSC (Holder). Another accountant on this payroll who has two master’s degrees is making three hundred and fifty-six dollars. See the huge disparity. Fonati Koffa-led administration said it was wrong. All Liberians should be treated equally before the law so we decided to harmonize or to standardize,” he said.
The Lawmaker added, “It is because of the standardization that those who were underpaid salaries have been increased to a considerable amount of not less than three hundred United States dollars for the lowest post at the House of Representatives. It was from this backdrop that the House payroll increased from $USD285,000 monthly to $USD327,000.
He continued, “So we wrote the Finance Ministry to disregard this payroll (Old), it’s not the approved payroll of the House of Representatives. The approved payroll of the House of Representatives is the one the Speaker of the Republic of Liberia signed on but this Director is saying he will disregard the signature of the first branch of government because it has a standing order that he should have come to do something that he is not doing.”
According to him, APEX findings have been pivotal in guiding the committee’s actions, ensuring that individuals are accurately placed according to their credentials and wages. Rep. Cole’s review, based on the APEX report, has highlighted significant inconsistencies in the payroll system. Despite informal agreements to address these issues, discrepancies in salary payments have persisted since January 2024.
The lawmaker criticized Joekai’s public accusations as baseless and incorrect, attributing the payroll issues to technical rather than illegal factors. He emphasized that, following a constructive meeting with key stakeholders, including House leadership, the Solicitor General of Liberia, and other officials, Joekai agreed to a headcount post-payment.
Rep. Cole “Everybody within the country, including the president of the Republic of Liberia. Private conversation with Josiah Joekai, you have to be very careful and this warrants his immediate dismissal. He went and misinformed the president. He was sent for in leadership and the leadership had a very fine conversation.”
“He wants to do a power play. We want to send a message to him, that he does not have the capability to fight the House of Representatives and if you intend, we will remind you about our constitutional authority to declare a vote of no confidence in you at any point in time. I’m warning all other agencies of government to be very careful with him. During a radio appearance on Tuesday, Nimba County Representative Musa Hassan Bility frowned on Mr. Joekai’s action and branded him as a disrespectful individual.
In a noteworthy turn during the proceedings, the Director General voiced concerns about the treatment he has received from certain members of the House, particularly from Hon. J. Marvin Cole, Chairman on Rules, Orders, and Administration. He described instances of intimidation and disrespect, recounting a previous encounter where Hon. Cole threatened to take disciplinary action against him for not approving new staff members for the payroll.
“I have never disrespected or failed to attend to the calls of the House of Representatives,” he asserted, calling for mutual respect among government officials. The Director General expressed his discomfort with the tone of communications he has received, including text messages perceived as threatening, stating, “Such behavior must never define our work culture.”
He urged the House to foster a professional and respectful work environment free from intimidation, harassment, and threats, emphasizing the need for collaboration to resolve ongoing issues. “Let us work together to address the issues at hand and ensure the smooth functioning of our government,” he concluded.
The Director General of the Civil Service Agency (CSA) provided a detailed account of the delays in salary disbursements for the Central Administration Staff. The session, initiated by an invitation from the House leadership, aimed to shed light on the ongoing issues surrounding salary payments and to clarify the CSA’s role in the process.
The Director General began by expressing gratitude for the opportunity to address the House, acknowledging the previous invitation he could not attend due to scheduling conflicts. “It is my esteemed honor to appear before you today,” he stated, emphasizing the importance of transparency and communication between the CSA and the House.
He clarified that while the CSA is responsible for processing salaries, the actual disbursement is managed by the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP). “According to the Standing Orders of the Civil Service, the payment of salaries and wages is determined by the CSA but disbursed by the MFDP,” he explained. The Director General confirmed that the salaries for July 2024 had been processed and approved, but the disbursement faced delays due to technical challenges associated with the Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) platform.
“The MFDP encountered several technical issues while attempting to use the EFT system for direct deposits,” he said, noting that this platform is intended to minimize discrepancies such as unauthorized payroll changes. Despite the CSA’s efforts to ensure accurate payroll information, complaints from employees regarding missed salary payments have persisted.
Since his appointment and confirmation, Joekai has been hailed by many, including President Joseph Boakai, for what they see as his excellent performance at the CSA.
