MONROVIA – Civil Service Agency (CSA) Director General Dr. Josiah F. Joekai is facing mounting allegations of retaliation and abuse of administrative power following the removal of nine National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) employees from the government payroll. The affected employees, who are currently on approved study leave abroad, have been without salaries for two months despite formal appeals for their reinstatement.
Multiple sources within the CSA allege that Dr. Joekai’s decision to remove the staff from the payroll is linked to the January 15, 2025 dismissal of his cousin, Pewee Quaqua, who previously served as Director of Logistics at NPHIL. Mr. Quaqua was dismissed following a major investigation into the unauthorized removal and illegal sale of 11 NPHIL vehicles, a probe led by a seven-member committee comprising representatives from the Liberia National Police, the Internal Audit Agency, senior staff, and NPHIL management. The investigation found that the vehicles were unlawfully taken from NPHIL premises and sold, prompting his removal by NPHIL’s Director General, Dr. Dougbeh Chris Nyan.
According to sources, the CSA boss allegedly responded angrily to Quaqua’s dismissal and is now using the payroll of NPHIL study leave staff as a bargaining chip to push for his cousin’s reinstatement. In what NPHIL has described as an “arbitrary” action, Dr. Joekai reportedly ordered the abrupt removal of nine employees from the payroll in August 2025.
NPHIL formally wrote to the CSA on August 28, 2025, requesting the immediate reinstatement of the affected employees. The institute emphasized that the staff had signed all required study leave agreements and submitted them in line with existing regulations. These employees are currently pursuing advanced studies in critical disciplines such as Medical Technology (PhD), Infectious Diseases (MSc), Public Policy (MSc), and Medical Entomology (MSc), fields that are essential to strengthening Liberia’s public health capacity.
In the letter, Dr. Nyan underscored the urgency of the matter: “These technical disciplines are vital to the country’s ability to respond to public health threats. We request their immediate reinstatement to ensure continuity of livelihood and morale.”
However, weeks have passed without action from the CSA. Affected staff members say the delay has left them struggling to survive in foreign countries. “These two months without salary have made it very difficult to survive. We’re in foreign countries studying to come back and serve Liberia better, but we’re now being punished for it,” said one of the affected employees pursuing a Master’s degree in Public Health.
Another staff member studying Medical Entomology expressed frustration: “CSA asked for our study leave agreements. NPHIL submitted everything by the end of August. Yet, here we are at the end of September and we haven’t seen a cent.” Others described their failed attempts to get answers. “We’ve emailed the CSA. I even messaged Dr. Joekai on WhatsApp, pleading for help, but got no response. We are stuck and desperate,” one employee said.
NPHIL reiterated that the employees are on legally approved study leave and are part of its expert capacity-building program, which is tied to the institution’s strategic goals. Officials fear that the CSA’s inaction could discourage future efforts to invest in staff development through international training.
When contacted for a response, the CSA stated that the issue stems from a lack of formal agreements. “The scholarship beneficiaries, and the institution the persons work with, have to sign an MOU. NPHIL didn’t do what the law says. The Director General of NPHIL unilaterally authorized the scholarships without the CSA. The CSA Boss asked the NPHIL boss to provide the MOU to CSA, but the Director has refused to present the documents. Bilateral scholarships’ MOUs are signed by three people (the beneficiary and their institution) including the CSA,” a CSA official said.
Despite this claim, the employees insist that all required documentation was submitted and that their removal from the payroll was a punitive act orchestrated by Dr. Joekai. They are now turning to the media and calling on the public, civil society, and oversight bodies to pressure the CSA to resolve the matter urgently.
“We are not on vacation. We are here studying to serve Liberia better. We hope the government sees the value in that, before it’s too late,” one final staff member lamented.
