MONROVIA –The Director-General of the Civil Service Agency(CSA), Dr. Josiah F. Joekai Jr., has addressed recent public interest concerning
By Augustus D.R [email protected]
administrative and human resource adjustments affecting certain operational divisions within the Ministry of Transport in the wake of the Liberia Traffic Management Incorporated (LTMI) arrangement.
Joekai said as the statutory authority responsible for personnel management and civil service oversight within the Government of Liberia(GoL), the CSA has been working closely with the leadership of the Ministry of Transport to ensure that these structural adjustments are implemented in full compliance with the laws, regulations and personnel management standards governing the Liberian Civil Service.
According to the CSA boss, this process forms part of a broader national effort to modernize traffic management systems, strengthen regulatory oversight and improve service delivery while protecting the livelihoods of civil servants whose work has historically supported these functions.
To guide the transition, he disclosed that the CSA conducted a comprehensive Personnel and Credential Verification Exercise within the Department of Land and Rail Transport of the Ministry of Transport.
He pointed out that the objective of the verification exercise was to verify and standardize personnel and credential records, assess workforce composition and divisional distribution, determine alignment between employee qualifications and job placements, provide policy guidance on retention, reclassification and redeployment of civil servants within the new traffic management framework.
At the time of the assessment, Dr. Joekai explained that the Department operated through four key divisions responsible for traffic management operations nationwide: Inspectorate Division, Motor Vehicle Division, Driver’s License Division and Tricycle and Motorcycle Division.
‘‘Collectively, these divisions previously handled vehicle registration services, driver licensing administration, traffic regulatory enforcement coordination, regulation of motorcycles and tricycles,’’ Dr. Joekai further explained.
‘‘These operational responsibilities are now transitioning under the Government’s Traffic Management Concession framework with Liberia Traffic Management Incorporated (LTMI),’’ he intoned.
Speaking further, the CSA DG stated that the Department of Land and Rail Transport has a total workforce of 191 employees. He said the Civil Service Agency Verification Exercise established that 176 employees (92 percent) were successfully verified and validated, 15 employees (8 percent) remain pending verification and documentation review.
He stressed that the high verification rate confirms a stable workforce structure and provides a credible basis for workforce planning within the transition framework.
The CSA boss, who emphasized clearly, further disclosed that all 176 verified civil servants will be retained within the government workforce, saying no verified civil servant will lose employment as a result of this reform.
‘‘The verification exercise also examined workforce distribution across the existing divisions. Division Employees Percentage, Inspectorate Division 99 52%, Motor Vehicle Division 55 29%, Driver’s License Division 20 10%, Tricycle & Motorcycle Division 4 2%, Administration 13 7%, Total 191 100%.The Inspectorate Division accounts for more than half of the workforce, reflecting the enforcement-oriented nature of traffic management operations nationwide.’’
‘‘The Civil Service Agency also assessed the alignment between employee qualifications and job placements. Placement Status Employees Percentage Rightly Placed 155 81%, Overqualified 19 10% , Underqualified 14 7%.’’
He indicated that these findings confirm that the majority of civil servants are appropriately positioned within their roles, while a smaller number require reclassification or professional development to strengthen role alignment.
‘‘The educational profile of the workforce demonstrates a diverse combination of professional experience and academic qualifications.
Credential Staff Percentage: Master’s Degree 2 1%, Bachelor’s Degree 39 20%, University Students 72 38%, Associate Degree 4 2%, High School Diploma 68 36%, No Formal Credential 2 1%. These findings highlight the importance of capacity development and professional training programs to support the modernization of Liberia’s traffic management systems,’’ DG Joekai intimated.
‘‘The age profile of the verified workforce confirms that the Department retains a strong and sustainable pool of human capital. Age Category Employees Percentage: Below 55 Years 142 81%, 55–59 Years 20 11%, 60 Years and Above 14 8%, Total Verified 176 100%. This indicates that the majority of the workforce remains professionally active and capable of supporting regulatory oversight functions over the long term.’’
Structural Reorganization of Divisions
In accordance with the new regulatory framework, he averred that three former operational divisions have been dissolved:• Division of Motor Vehicles, Division of Drivers’ License, Division of Tricycle and Motorcycle, Operational mandates previously exercised by these divisions relating to vehicle registration and driver licensing are now transferred to Liberia Traffic Management Incorporated (LTMI).
Establishment of New Regulatory Divisions
‘‘To strengthen Government oversight within the transport sector, the Ministry of
Transport has established three new divisions:
• Division of Motor Vehicle Policy and Regulation
• Division of Axle Load Management
• Division of Traffic Monitoring and Enforcement
These divisions reposition the Ministry from direct service delivery toward policy
development, regulatory oversight, infrastructure protection, and enforcement coordination.’’
Workforce Retention and Redeployment Framework: ‘‘The Government has adopted a balanced workforce transition framework.
Retention of Verified Civil Servants
All 176 verified civil servants will be retained within government service and redeployed into appropriate roles within the new regulatory divisions and related oversight functions.’’
Voluntary Transition Opportunity To LTMI
Dr. Joekai revealed that up 30 qualified employees have the opportunity to transition to Liberia Traffic Management Incorporated.
But said this transition is entirely voluntary and that employees who wish to make this transition simply need to express their interest through the established administrative mechanism already in place, saying employees have until March 12, 2026 to make their LTMI transition choice clear.
‘‘After March 12, this opportunity will no longer exist. It is important to clarify that employees who transition to LTMI will no longer be civil servants. They will instead become employees within the private sector and will be governed by the Decent Work Act of Liberia, which regulates employment conditions within private institutions.
Employees who choose not to transition will remain civil servants within the Government of Liberia and will be assigned to appropriate roles within the Ministry of Transport’s new regulatory framework.’’
Development of Job Descriptions and Onboarding
The CSA Chief announced that the Civil Service Agency and the Ministry of Transport are currently finalizing:
• organizational structures of the new divisions
• staffing configurations
• reporting lines
• performance benchmarks
• compliance indicators
• detailed job descriptions.
‘‘Following this process, affected civil servants will undergo a structured professional onboarding and orientation process to ensure their effective integration into the new regulatory divisions.’’
Government Actions To Strengthen Oversight
As part of this reform framework, DG Joekai mentioned that the government is taking additional steps to strengthen institutional oversight, including:• establishing stronger traffic regulatory monitoring systems within the MinistrY, strengthening compliance monitoring of LTMI operations, implementing continuous capacity development programs for retained civil servants, strengthening reporting and accountability mechanisms within the national traffic management system.
These measures, DG Joekai accentuated, ensure that modernization of traffic management systems enhances government oversight rather than weakening regulatory authority.
Professional Conduct of Civil Servants
He indicated that the CSA also reminds all civil servants that matters relating to institutional restructuring and government policy decisions fall within the authority of designated government leadership.
‘‘Civil servants are therefore encouraged to conduct themselves in accordance with: the Standing Orders for the Civil Service, the Civil Service Human Resource Policy Framework, applicable institutional policies, Professionalism, discipline, and respect for administrative processes remain, essential pillars of the Liberian Civil Service,’’ he continued.
‘‘The transition to the Liberia Traffic Management Incorporated framework
represents an important national modernization initiative aimed at improving service delivery, strengthening revenue administration, and introducing modern traffic management systems,’’ the CSA DG asserted.
However, he noted that this reform has been carefully designed to protect civil servants, reserve institutional knowledge and maintain strong government regulatory authority.
Meanwhile, DG Joekai reiterated the Government’s position clearly: All 176 verified civil servants will be retained. Up to 30 employees may voluntarily transition to LTMI if they choose to do so before March 12, 2026., ‘‘Those who remain will be reclassified and redeployed within the Ministry’s, new regulatory divisions. This balanced approach ensures that modernization proceeds in a manner that protects workers, strengthens institutions and advances the national interest.’’
He added that the CSA appreciates the cooperation of all stakeholders as this important transition continues.
