Liberia: FrontPage Africa Investigation Uncovers Conflicting Accounts In Gov’t Payroll Cleanup 

Monrovia – A FrontPage Africa investigation has revealed conflicting figures between the Civil Service Agency (CSA) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) regarding the number of ineligible government employees removed from Liberia’s payroll and the amount saved from the ongoing payroll cleanup.

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By Gerald C. Koinyeneh

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According to the Civil Service Agency’s 2024 Annual Report, between March and October 2024, the CSA removed 5,536 employees from the government payroll, saving US$1,836,642.34.

“From March to October 2024, the Civil Service Agency (CSA) implemented various interventions, including recommendations from the General Auditing Commission’s (GAC) 2022 payroll audit. These measures removed double dippers, ghost workers, duplicate National Identification Numbers (NINs), and shared bank account holders from the payroll. As a direct result, the Civil Service Agency (CSA) has removed thousands of ineligible individuals from the payroll, resulting in substantial financial savings,” the report stated.

The report breaks down the removals and savings as follows:

• March–April: 188 employees removed, US$112,684.08 saved
• April–May: 507 removed, US$193,236.71 saved
• May–June: 825 removed, US$357,320.20 saved
• June–July: 625 removed, US$230,042.06 saved
• July–August: 313 removed, US$130,019.15 saved
• August–September: 1,373 removed, US$301,684.88 saved
• September–October: 166 removed, US$104,989.69 saved
• September–October (additional): 1,539 removed, US$406,674.57 saved

In contrast, the IMF’s February 2025 Country Report on Liberia reports 3,775 employees removed during the same period, with US$4.4 million in total savings, more than twice the amount reported by the CSA.

“Since March 2024, the Civil Service Agency (CSA) has removed 3,775 civil servants from the payroll, including 1,539 identified during the verification process required by the 2022 GAC compliance payroll audit report. The remaining unverified civil servants will continue to be suspended from monthly salary payments until their status is verified. The estimated annual savings from these removals and implementation of other measures proposed by the audit report amount to US$4.4 million,” the IMF report stated.

The discrepancies raise questions about data consistency, inter-agency coordination, and transparency in the payroll reform process — a key pillar of Liberia’s public sector reforms, supported by the IMF and other partners.

Government employees’ compensation consumes a substantial portion of Liberia’s budget. In 2023, US$301,161,000 of the US$777.94 million budget went to employee compensation. In 2024, it decreased to US$282,846,300 out of a total US$738,859,827, and in 2025, it is projected at US$315,500,000, or 35.8% of US$880,661,874.

The inconsistencies have drawn criticism from civil society and analysts.

“The government should be truthful to the citizens and partners. A responsible government will promote transparency and accountability in all its actions to boost credibility. That’s what we expect and nothing less,” said data analyst Jenkins Smith.

“These inconsistencies expose blatant contradictions and dishonesty of the Rescue Government,” added Darius Doe, who also flagged discrepancies in the payroll cleanup.

“The CSA Director-General’s actions appear fraudulent, raising serious concerns about transparency and accountability,” Doe added.

FrontPage Africa reached out to both the CSA and MFDP for clarification, but no official responses were received as of press time. An anonymous CSA official told FrontPage Africa that the agency’s figures are based on “actual names removed after thorough verification,” while the IMF’s numbers “may be drawn from a broader fiscal perspective that includes projected savings.”

Sources also indicate that discrepancies may arise because the CSA reports “identified” removals, while the IMF accounts for only those fully verified and executed by the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP).

With Liberia’s international partners closely monitoring public sector reform under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement, resolving these inconsistencies is critical to maintaining confidence in the government’s transparency and reform efforts.

As the debate continues, the true impact of Liberia’s payroll cleanup remains uncertain. Full disclosure and harmonization between the CSA, MFDP, and development partners are essential to provide a clear and credible picture of the government’s savings and efficiency gains.