By Stephanie M. Duncan
Civil Service Agency (CSA) Director General Josiah Joekai comes under political pressure amid Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, Claims and Petitions recommendation that he either be suspended or removed from office for breach of standing rules governing political participation by officials of government.
The Committee urged the Liberian Senate formally communicates with President Joseph Nyuma Boakai to suspend or remove the CSA boss from office based on his (Joekai’s) reported attendance at a political program organized by former Montserrado County District #5 Representative Thomas P. Fallah.
According to the committee, the matter warrants executive action, and it has proposed that President Boakai take appropriate measures regarding the CSA Director’s continued tenure.
The committee’s report has been laid before the Senate Plenary for debate and consideration by members. Whether the Senate will act upon the recommendation, and if made, whether President Joseph Boakai will adhere to it remains a pure conjecture.
Lawmakers are expected to deliberate on the recommendation before deciding whether to formally request presidential action.
The recommendation is seen as litmus test for President Boakai whose administration sacked civil servants and pushed out tenure-protected officials for wearing party colors and showing loyalty to the previous CDC government during the 2023 elections.
Recall that the CSA director general wore T-shirt and participated in a political rally organized by the National Independent Movement for Boakai (NIMBO) founded by Representative Thomas Fallah.
The 2014 Code of Conduct Act, the law Liberia’s Office of the Ombudsman administers, explicitly bars presidential appointees from engaging in political activities, using government resources for partisan purposes, or serving on any campaign team.
The CSA’s own standing orders require that certified civil servants take leave without pay during election campaign periods. Koekai oversees compliance with both frameworks.
Earlier in Boakai’s term, the administration dismissed staff from the Executive Protection Service and the Monrovia City Corporation after they attended political rallies in CDC regalia.
The government said those dismissals were necessary to enforce conduct policy and stop civil servants from breaking the rules. Konneh noted that a Senate letter requesting the reinstatement of those MCC workers remains stalled in the Labor Committee.
About The Author
