A recent personnel and credential audit conducted by the Civil Service Agency (CSA) has exposed significant gaps in human resource and payroll management within the Judiciary’s Montserrado County workforce. The findings, presented by CSA Director-General Dr. Josiah F. Joekai, Jr. during a special session at the Temple of Justice, highlight systemic challenges that could be eroding public trust in the judicial system.
The seven-day verification exercise, commissioned at the request of Chief Justice Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay, Sr., verified 674 employees, representing 33% of the Judiciary’s total workforce of 2,048.
The audit was conducted across key judicial offices, including the Supreme Court, the Paynesville Magisterial Court, and the Gardnerville Magisterial Court.
Key Findings
The CSA report identified six major areas of concern:
High Rates of Absenteeism
Attendance data revealed significant lapses in accountability:
127 employees may face salary deductions for short-term absenteeism.
22 employees risk suspension for up to 13 days of absence.
63 employees could face dismissal for repeated and prolonged absenteeism.
In total, 38.3% of the verified workforce had attendance-related violations, underscoring weak enforcement of discipline across the Judiciary.
Questionable Academic Credentials
Among the 674 verified staff:
426 (63%) had verifiable academic credentials.
56 (8%) presented documents flagged for further investigation due to authenticity concerns.
92 employees had no academic qualifications.
243 held only high school diplomas.
These findings raise serious concerns about hiring standards and the qualifications of individuals serving in the judicial system.
Misaligned Job Placements
The audit found that:
150 employees were working in roles they were not qualified for.
40 employees were underqualified for their current positions.
Only 484 employees were appropriately placed based on their qualifications.
Payroll Irregularities
The CSA uncovered a dual payroll system operating within the Judiciary:
A CSA-managed, taxable payroll compliant with the Remuneration and Standardization Act of 2019.
A non-taxable payroll jointly managed by the Judiciary, deemed illegal and noncompliant with public finance and employment laws.
The CSA warned that this practice undermines transparency and accountability in public financial management.
Workforce Demographics and Succession Risks
70% of the workforce is male, highlighting a significant gender imbalance.
11% of staff are at or beyond retirement age.
An additional 22% are expected to retire within the next decade, signaling the need for urgent succession planning.
Poor Recordkeeping and Resistance to Audit
The verification teams encountered several operational challenges:
Incomplete or non-standardized personnel files.
Resistance and intimidation from some staff.
A lack of automated systems for attendance and HR tracking.
Recommendations for Reform
The CSA issued a series of strategic recommendations aimed at improving governance, accountability, and operational efficiency:
Consolidate Payrolls: Transition all Judiciary staff to the CSA-managed payroll to ensure legality and eliminate irregularities.
Verify Credentials: Suspend staff with questionable academic records pending third-party verification; remove those found to have submitted fraudulent documents.
Reclassify Staff: Redeploy or reassign underqualified personnel to roles aligned with their educational backgrounds.
Enforce Attendance: Implement biometric or electronic timekeeping systems; apply salary deductions or suspensions for unexcused absences.
Invest in Workforce Development: Expand training, scholarships, adult education, and establish merit-based promotion systems.
Digitize HR Systems: Fully digitize personnel records and enforce a strict “one-person-one-payroll” policy to prevent duplication and ghost workers.
Dr. Joekai commended the Judiciary’s leadership for initiating the verification process and expressed the CSA’s readiness to expand the audit to the remaining 14 counties, where 67% of the Judiciary’s workforce remains unverified.
“This audit lays the groundwork for a transparent, accountable, and professionally managed Judiciary,” Dr. Joekai stated. “If these reforms are embraced, we can restore public trust and ensure that justice is administered by competent and qualified individuals.”
The findings have already sparked discussions among legal and government circles, with many anticipating that full implementation of the CSA’s recommendations could significantly improve the integrity and performance of Liberia’s judicial system.
