By: Julius Konton
The Government of Liberia has reaffirmed its commitment to workforce protection and institutional strengthening as it implements a major restructuring of the country’s traffic management system, a reform officials say is essential for modernizing the transport sector and improving national revenue administration.
Speaking amid public discussion surrounding the reform, Josiah F. Joekai Jr., Director General of the Civil Service Agency (CSA), clarified that no verified civil servant will lose employment as a result of the transition to the Liberia Traffic Management Incorporated (LTMI) framework.
The reform, undertaken in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport, represents one of the most significant attempts in recent years to modernize traffic administration in the West African nation.
According to Dr. Joekai, the initiative is designed to improve service delivery, strengthen revenue generation, introduce modern traffic technologies, and reposition government institutions toward stronger regulatory oversight.
“Let me reiterate the Government’s position clearly,” Joekai said. “All 176 verified civil servants will be retained within the Government workforce.
No verified employee will lose employment as a result of this reform.”
A Reform Rooted in Institutional Modernization
Liberia’s transport administration has historically faced structural challenges including fragmented traffic management systems, weak regulatory oversight, and limited digital infrastructure for vehicle registration and driver licensing.
For decades, the Department of Land and Rail Transport within the Ministry of Transport managed several core operational functions, including:
Vehicle registration services
Driver’s license administration
Enforcement coordination of traffic regulations
Regulation of motorcycles and tricycles
However, policymakers say these operational responsibilities often strained the Ministry’s capacity to perform its primary policy and regulatory functions.
The new framework seeks to separate service delivery from regulatory oversight, a governance model increasingly adopted across developing economies to improve efficiency and accountability.
Under the arrangement, operational responsibilities relating to vehicle registration and driver licensing are being transferred to Liberia Traffic Management Incorporated, while the Ministry will focus on policy development, compliance monitoring, and enforcement coordination.
Government officials argue that this model strengthens not weakens state authority over the transport sector.
“These measures ensure that modernization enhances government oversight rather than diminishing regulatory authority,” Joekai emphasized.
Personnel Verification: 92 Percent Workforce Confirmed
To guide the restructuring, the Civil Service Agency conducted a comprehensive Personnel and Credential Verification Exercise within the Department of Land and Rail Transport.
The verification aimed to:
Standardize personnel and credential records
Evaluate workforce distribution across operational divisions
Assess alignment between qualifications and job placements
Provide policy guidance on workforce retention and redeployment
The assessment revealed that the Department currently employs 191 workers.
Key findings include:
176 employees (92%) successfully verified and validated
15 employees (8%) pending documentation review
Officials say the high verification rate indicates a stable workforce structure, providing a credible foundation for planning the institutional transition.
“All 176 verified civil servants will remain within government service,” the CSA confirmed.
Structural Reorganization of Transport Divisions
As part of the reform, three long-standing operational divisions have been dissolved:
Division of Motor Vehicles
Division of Drivers’ License
Division of Tricycle and Motorcycle
He stated that the responsibilities previously managed by these divisions are now shifting to LTMI under the government’s traffic management concession arrangement.
In their place, the Ministry of Transport has created three new regulatory divisions designed to strengthen policy oversight:
Newly Established Divisions
Division of Motor Vehicle Policy and Regulation
Division of Axle Load Management
Division of Traffic Monitoring and Enforcement
He said this reorganization marks a strategic shift from direct service delivery toward regulatory governance and infrastructure protection.
The Axle Load Management Division, for example, will play a key role in monitoring heavy-duty vehicles whose excessive weight often damages national road infrastructure.
Workforce Redeployment Strategy
Under the new framework, civil servants will be reclassified and redeployed within the Ministry’s newly established regulatory divisions and related oversight functions.
The CSA emphasized that redeployment will consider:
Professional qualifications
Experience and institutional knowledge
Divisional workforce needs
Capacity-building opportunities
Dr. Joekai stressed that the approach preserves institutional memory while ensuring that employees remain productive within the evolving regulatory framework.
According to him, Affected staff will undergo structured professional onboarding and orientation to prepare them for their new roles.
Voluntary Transition to Private Sector
While most workers will remain within government service, the reform provides a limited opportunity for some employees to join the private sector.
Up to 30 qualified staff members may voluntarily transition to LTMI employment.
The CSA says this option is entirely voluntary.
Workers interested in transitioning must declare their interest before March 12, 2026.
He pointed out that employees who choose this path will leave the civil service and become private sector employees governed by Liberia’s Decent Work Act, which regulates employment standards in private institutions.
After the March 12 deadline, the transition opportunity will close.
Workforce Profile: Experience Meets Opportunity
The CSA analysis also examined the educational and demographic composition of the workforce.
The findings reveal a workforce that combines long-standing institutional experience with diverse educational qualifications.
The CSA Boss said the majority of employees are appropriately positioned within their current roles, though some will require:
Professional reclassification
Targeted training programs
Capacity-building initiatives
The workforce age profile also indicates long-term sustainability, with many employees still within their active professional years.
Government authorities say this demographic advantage will help maintain regulatory continuity as the transport sector evolves.
Strengthening Oversight in the Transport Sector
Beyond personnel management, the reform includes several broader governance improvements.
These include:
Strengthened traffic regulatory monitoring systems
Enhanced compliance oversight of LTMI operations
Continuous capacity development for retained civil servants
Stronger reporting and accountability mechanisms
Together, these measures aim to ensure that modernization improves efficiency while reinforcing state supervision of the sector.
Call for Professional Conduct
Amid heightened public discussion around the reform, the Civil Service Agency also reminded government employees of their professional responsibilities.
According to the CSA, matters relating to institutional restructuring fall under the authority of designated government leadership.
Civil servants are therefore expected to adhere to:
Standing Orders for the Civil Service
Civil Service Human Resource Policy Framework
Institutional administrative procedures
“Professionalism, discipline, and respect for administrative processes remain essential pillars of the Liberian Civil Service,” Joekai stated.
Balancing Reform and Worker Protection
For Liberia, where public sector employment remains a major source of economic stability, workforce reforms often generate intense public scrutiny.
Officials insist the current transition strikes a careful balance between modernization and worker protection.
“This balanced approach ensures that modernization proceeds in a manner that protects workers, strengthens institutions, and advances the national interest,” Joekai said.
The Civil Service Agency and the Ministry of Transport say they will continue engaging stakeholders as the reform process moves toward full implementation.
