By: Julius Konton
The Civil Service Agency has honored and recognized the unique and dedicated services of former Director General of the CAS, Dr. C. William Allen.
As a means of giving a man his flower while he is still alive, the Agency headed by Dr. Josiah F. Joekai Jr. officially named its Executive Conference room in honor of its former boss as Dr. C. William Allen Executive Conference room.
The ceremony was an emotional one and one that shows great reflection of appreciation and gratitude to a public servant for remarkable works done over the period.
” I am full of emotions, I could not believe that 12 years after I ended my tenure as Director General of the Civil Service Agency, my peers would remember my administrative footprints and honor me in this special way”, he said.
Dr. Allen at the same time thanked the CSA for recognizing his work and for such incredible opportunity to be remembered by his peers and his successors.
According to him, his honor is a testament to the amazing support system from which he benefited during his time at the Agency adding by appreciating everyone who believed in him and helped me along his journey as former Director General of the CSA.
Dr. Allen commended the current CSA Boss for been kind to recall the transformational initiatives his administration instituted for public sector reform.
He reflected that his vision was to create a smaller government for a better and more efficient service delivery by competent civil servants based on a merit system.
Moreover, he pointed out that the goal of that endeavor was to professionalize the civil service in Liberia in the post-conflict era.
“I stand here today confident that under your able leadership, that vision has been accelerated, and the civil service of our nation is on a new trajectory”, he re-emphasized.
Dr. Allen also used the occasion to congratulate Dr. Joekai and his able administrators for the submission of a bill to the national legislature for the creation of the Civil Service Commission as prescribed in Chapter X, Article 89 of the Liberian Constitution, under the caption, Autonomous Public Commissions.
He is confident with no doubt that under the dynamic leadership of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, the bill will be passed and signed into law.
Acknowledging the proactive reform approach by the agency, Dr. Allen at the same time launded Dr. Joekai for his recent decision to enforce the Civil Service Exam requirement for all public servants.
“You indicated that the CSA will no longer process Personnel Action Notices, unless they are accompanied by a valid certificate showing successful completion of the civil service examination, such decision is certain to ensure that the recruitment of individuals into government service, must be done based on competence and merit, rather than personal connection or political favor”, he noted.
The former CSA and MICAT boss hopes that as they honor him and implant his name in the Executive conference room of the CSA, deliberations that will be held in such space, and the decisions taken will not only resonate in the work of the decision makers, but will also touch the lives and livelihoods of ordinary Liberians across this great nation.
According to him, receiving an honor is not just a recognition of one’s accomplishments, but also a testament to the support, guidance, and collaboration of many individuals, including incredible mentors, teammates, friends, and families who have stood by him, marking the culmination of hard work, dedication, and passion.
Dr. Allen reiterated that such honor bestowed upon him is not just for him alone but it is for all civil servants who strive daily to be honest, professional, and hard-working to improve the proficiency of the nation and enhance its reputational image.
He also reflected and expressed gratitude and appreciation to former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for her preference for him to serve his nation and its people not only as Director General of the Civil Service Agency, but later, Ambassador to France and Permanent Delegate to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
“I say a special thanks to all of my colleagues at the Civil Service Agency who shared my vision and worked very hard to achieve our goals and I want to recognize with special thanks and appreciation our international partners for the multi-donor public sector grants that enabled us to implement the Public Sector Modernization Project”, he noted.
