Published: January 19, 2026
MONROVIA — The Civil Service Agency (CSA) has completed an in-person verification exercise at the National Bureau of Concessions (NBC), identifying gaps in personnel records, credential integrity and staff placement while recommending reforms aimed at strengthening accountability, compliance and operational efficiency across the institution.
The exercise was conducted Thursday, Jan. 15, at the CSA headquarters at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Congo Town. According to the CSA, the NBC has a workforce of 120 employees. Of that number, 107 were successfully verified, six were unverified, six provided valid excuses for absence, and one was identified as a presidential appointee.
Personnel Records and Compliance
CSA Director-General Josiah F. Joekai Jr. said personnel files for the 107 verified employees were reviewed in collaboration with the NBC’s Human Resources Department to align employee records with established compliance standards.
“We identified gaps in the process, including missing documents and outdated records, all of which we sought to address in collaboration with the HR Department,” Joekai said.
He said the NBC has made progress toward compliance, but outstanding issues remain to be addressed during the implementation phase of the CSA’s recommendations.
Credential Verification Raises Integrity Concerns
On credential verification, Joekai disclosed that 103 of the 107 verified employees presented academic or professional credentials. Of those, 98 credentials — 95.1% — were verified, while four — 4.9% — were deemed unverifiable or forged. Four employees presented no academic or professional credentials, he said.
“When we look at the identified critical integrity risks, there is a need for immediate corrective action concerning those without credentials and those with unverifiable credentials,” Joekai said.
Educational Profile of NBC Workforce
The CSA report also broke down the workforce by educational level, noting that the NBC has:
- 52 employees with bachelor’s degrees
- Five with master’s degrees
- 15 with professional or technical certificates
- Two with associate degrees
- 29 with high school diplomas
- Four with no formal qualifications
Staff Placement and Role Alignment
Assessing deployment, Joekai said 84 employees are properly placed, while eight are completely misplaced. An additional 11 employees are underqualified for their roles, while four are overqualified.
As a result, the CSA is recommending 35 employees for reclassification and redeployment to better align qualifications with job responsibilities and institutional needs.
Attendance, Payroll and Workforce Reliability
While the CSA found that most NBC employees maintain regular attendance, Joekai said the assessment highlights the need for stricter enforcement of attendance policies and stronger payroll controls to improve workforce reliability and integrity.
Gender and Age Distribution
The CSA also flagged what it described as a significant gender imbalance at the bureau. According to the findings, the NBC workforce comprises 77 males (78%) and 30 females (22%). Joekai urged the Human Resources Department to take steps to close the gap.
On age distribution, he said 96% of employees are under age 54. Seven employees (6%) are between ages 55 and 59 and nearing retirement, while four employees (4%) are above the mandatory retirement age of 60.
Key Challenges Identified
Among the challenges cited during the exercise were incomplete or missing documentation, staff reluctance to participate due to fear of exposure, mismatched qualifications and role misalignment. Joekai said addressing these concerns would strengthen payroll and credential integrity, accountability, transparency and overall efficiency.
Recommendations and Sanctions
As part of the CSA’s recommendations, Joekai advised that the four employees with no academic credentials and the 29 with only high school diplomas should not be classified into junior-level or higher technical roles. He recommended that their salaries be prorated in keeping with the Human Resource Policy Manual.
He also called for the suspension of 32 employees who were absent from work for seven to 13 days in November, recommending a one-month suspension. In addition, he urged the dismissal and removal from the payroll of eight employees who were absent for 14 days or more.
Joekai further recommended that the NBC develop a strategic workforce plan, with standardized policies aligned to projected institutional growth.
Institutional Response
Joekai said the CSA believes the NBC is positioned to enhance efficiency, integrity and service delivery in line with President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr.’s public sector reform agenda.
NBC Director-General Hanson S. Kiazolu welcomed the findings and thanked the CSA for its support in strengthening compliance and accountability at the bureau.
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