The Director-General of the Civil Service Agency (CSA), Dr. Josiah F. Joekai, Jr., has announced that effective July 28, 2025; all civil service appointments in Liberia will be strictly contingent upon the successful completion of a standardized civil service examination.
Dr. Joekai, addressing a gathering of government officials, media representatives, and citizens, described the new policy as “a transformational agenda that is redefining the future of public service delivery in our country.”
He emphasized the CSA’s commitment to building “a robust, responsive, and competent civil service-one that works for the people and earns their trust.”
The National Civil Service Testing Center (NCSTC), launched in October 2024 by Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung, is now the centerpiece of this merit-based reform effort.
“Let me be clear,” Dr. Joekai asserted, “effective Monday, July 28, 2025, the Civil Service Agency will only process Personnel Action Notices (PANs) submitted by Ministries, Agencies, and Commissions (MACs) when accompanied by a valid certificate of successful completion of the civil service examination. No certificate, no PAN.”
The Director-General stated that the testing regime, which transitioned the government from a manual, paper-based system to a computerized, skills-based evaluation, is fully aligned with President Joseph N. Boakai’s ARREST Agenda for reform and good governance.
The civil service exams are now mandatory for all applicants vying for one of the 83 designated positions identified across various government institutions.
“All appointments to civil service positions must be merit-based and guided by competitive assessments,” Joekai stressed, quoting Chapter 3, Section 3.2.1 of the Standing Orders for the Civil Service.
However, Joekai clarified that exemptions apply. “Professionals certified by recognized bodies, like doctors, nurses, auditors, and engineers, as well as support staff such as drivers and janitors, are not required to sit the exam,” he said, citing Section 3.2.5 of the Standing Orders.
Since the start of the official testing phase on June 23, a total of 82 candidates have taken the test-60 males and 22 females.
This follows a successful trial phase from May 5 to June 20, which assessed the efficiency of the system with 158 participants.
Joekai credited President Boakai for a significant logistical boost to the project: “We extend our deepest gratitude to His Excellency for providing a Starlink Enterprise package that ensures reliable internet connectivity at the Testing Center.”
The CSA chief urged HR Directors across government entities to comply with the new mandate, warning, “Noncompliance will be viewed as an administrative violation and dealt with accordingly.”
Beyond internal reforms, Joekai called for broader economic restructuring, noting that Liberia’s over-reliance on public sector jobs is fiscally unsustainable. “A thriving economy depends on a vibrant private sector that can absorb a significant portion of the labor force,” he said.
He concluded by reaffirming CSA’s mission: “We remain unwavering in our commitment to strengthening workforce efficiency, enforcing merit-based recruitment, and cleansing the government payroll of ghost names.”
With the new mandate now in force, the CSA is signaling a decisive break from the past-and a bold step toward transparency, accountability, and professionalism in public service.
