President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has submitted a draft bill to the Legislature seeking the repeal of the existing Civil Service Agency (CSA) Act in order to establish a Civil Service Commission (CSC) in its place.
The proposed legislation, which aligns with Article 89 of the 1986 Constitution mandating the creation of autonomous public commissions, was formally presented to the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives, Madam Mildred Sayon, on Monday by CSA Director General Dr. Josiah F. Joekai, Jr., on behalf of the Executive. The submission was accompanied by a letter from President Boakai.
In his communication, the President wrote:“In fulfillment of Article 89 of the 1986 Constitution of the Republic of Liberia, I am pleased to submit for legislative enactment ‘An Act to Establish the Civil Service Commission.’ This legislation seeks to repeal the pre-1986 Civil Service Agency and create an independent and autonomous body empowered to regulate, supervise, and promote standards within the Liberian Civil Service and the broader public sector.”
President Boakai explained that the new Commission will ensure fair access to employment and career advancement, improve working conditions for civil servants, and foster transparency and professionalism in public service.
It will also formalize civil servants as a distinct category with structured systems for their development, protection, and grievance resolution.
He emphasized that passing the Act would be a “critical step in modernizing and optimizing Civil Service operations,” contributing significantly to the ARREST Agenda, focused on administrative reform, transparency, and improved service delivery.
House Speaker Koon Receives Draft Act
Receiving the document, House Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon thanked Dr. Joekai and his team for the submission, assuring them of the Legislature’s commitment to act swiftly when it reconvenes in October.
“Civil servants are the foundation of government, and they need to be well taken care of,” Speaker Koon said. “When civil servants are given decent working conditions, the work of government moves faster and more efficiently.”
Speaker Koon further assured that the draft Act would be referred to his colleagues in the House leadership for timely consideration.
The proposal will now be sent to the relevant committees for review before any legislative action is taken.