MONROVIA – The Civil Service Agency (CSA) of Liberia has issued a sweeping directive mandating that all Personnel Action Notices (PANs) submitted after July 28, 2025, must include an official certificate indicating a successful pass in the civil service examination. This move, announced in a circular dated July 22, 2025, by CSA Director-General Josiah F. Joekai, Jr., is expected to overhaul the hiring process across all government spending entities.
According to the circular, the National Civil Service Testing Center (NCSTC) began administering standardized examinations on June 23, 2025. From July 28 onward, any PAN submitted without proof of passing this test will be automatically disqualified, and further administrative action may follow against the submitting entity. The new measure applies to all Ministries, Agencies, and Commissions (MACs) within the Government of Liberia.
Director-General Joekai cited Section 3.2.1 of the Standing Orders for the Civil Service as the legal foundation for this move. The provision mandates that “all appointments to the classified Civil Service of the Republic of Liberia shall be channeled through the Civil Service Agency; there shall be no exceptions.” It also requires that the CSA oversee recruitment examinations and certification for all classified positions.
The circular emphasized that PANs submitted prior to the July 28 deadline will still be reviewed and processed based on their merits. However, any hiring requests submitted after that date must strictly comply with the testing requirement.
Joekai described the enforcement of the civil service examination as essential to restoring meritocracy, professionalism, and transparency within public service hiring. He said this approach will elevate the standards of Liberia’s bureaucracy and help weed out unqualified personnel from the system.
Human Resources Directors across government institutions are being urged to comply fully, or risk disqualification of PANs and potential penalties for breaching the CSA’s mandate. The directive marks a strong shift toward reforming Liberia’s civil service system, long criticized for political patronage and inefficiency.
The CSA has pledged to work with all MACs to ensure a smooth transition and reiterated its commitment to building a professional and high-performing civil service workforce.
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