MONROVIA – The Government of Liberia, through the Civil Service Agency (CSA), has announced significant financial savings following a personal verification and headcount audit of three key government spending institutions. The CSA’s efforts are expected to save the government approximately US$117,016 monthly and an impressive US$488,816 annually by eliminating grave financial leakages allegedly orchestrated by Human Resources Directors and Financial Controllers.
These findings have prompted the CSA to submit the implicated Human Resources and Financial Controllers from the Ministry of Mines and Energy, the Liberia Institute for Public Administration (LIPA), and the National Coordinating Review Mechanism to the Ministry of Justice for further investigation.
Ministry of Mines and Energy
At the Ministry of Mines and Energy, the CSA discovered 40 individuals who were receiving salaries despite not attending work. The total monthly salaries for these individuals amounted to US$18,539. The CSA has removed these names from the payroll, effectively dismissing the 40 individuals.
Additionally, 81 employees at the Ministry were found to have been absent for more than eight days without any legitimate reason. These individuals will be suspended for one month without pay, saving the government US$36,881 for that month.
Liberia Institute for Public Administration (LIPA)
The audit at LIPA uncovered 28 employees who had not shown up for work for 14 to 20 days monthly but continued to receive salaries from January to March. These employees have been dismissed, saving the government US$17,597 each month.
Moreover, 30 individuals at LIPA will be suspended for one month without pay for being absent from work for 8 to 12 days. This measure will save the government an additional US$17,215 for the suspension period.
National Coordinating Review Mechanism
At the National Coordinating Review Mechanism, the CSA identified 12 individuals who were on the payroll despite no evidence of their employment from October to December last year. These ghost employees were not identified during the physical verification and headcount process. Removing these names from the payroll will save the government US$25,708 monthly.
The CSA’s rigorous audit and the subsequent actions taken against non-compliant employees underscore the government’s commitment to eliminating corruption and ensuring fiscal responsibility. By addressing these financial leakages, the CSA aims to improve the efficiency and integrity of government operations, setting a precedent for accountability across all public institutions.
These measures not only save substantial amounts of money but also reinforce the importance of transparency and accountability within Liberia’s civil service. As the Ministry of Justice takes over the investigation, it is hoped that this initiative will lead to long-term improvements in the management of public resources. Credit: Nyantee Genero Samuel Togba
