Sen. Dillon Labels CSA Boss’ Code of Conduct Violation “Egregious,” Backs Administrative Sanctions
By: Melvin Flomo
MONROVIA, Liberia – Montserrado County Senator Abraham Darius Dillon has described the participation of Civil Service Agency (CSA) Director-General Josiah F. Joekai in a pro-government political gathering as an “egregious” violation of Liberia’s National Code of Conduct, backing recommendations for administrative sanctions against the senior government official.
Speaking during deliberations in the Liberian Senate, Senator Dillon argued that Joekai’s appearance at an event organized by the National Independent Movement for Boakai (NIMBO)—a group advocating for President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s reelection—constituted prohibited political activity for a presidential appointee.
Dillon stressed that the Senate’s debate was not a personal attack on the CSA Director-General but an effort to uphold the rule of law and reinforce the Legislature’s constitutional oversight responsibility.
“I know Josiah Joekai very well. He is a friend and former colleague. He was part of our efforts during the 2023 elections to bring the Rescue Government to power,” Dillon told the Senate. “But when it comes to upholding governance and the rule of law, friendship must not stand above principle.”
The Montserrado lawmaker maintained that Section 5.1 of Liberia’s National Code of Conduct clearly prohibits presidential appointees from engaging in political activities while serving in public office.
According to Dillon, the NIMBO gathering was inherently political because its central objective was to mobilize support for President Boakai’s anticipated reelection campaign.
“The argument that NIMBO is not a political party misses the point,” Dillon asserted. “The event was organized to endorse a future presidential campaign. Whether it is a political party or an independent movement, the activity was political in nature.”
He further argued that the alleged violation was particularly troubling because Joekai heads the Civil Service Agency—the government institution charged with safeguarding professionalism, impartiality, and political neutrality throughout Liberia’s civil service.
“He is the head of the civil service. He is supposed to be one of the foremost defenders of the Code of Conduct,” Dillon said. “Instead, he publicly participated in a political event and then attempted to justify his actions.”
Citing previous Supreme Court interpretations of the National Code of Conduct, Dillon contended that Joekai’s actions fall within the category of violations previously characterized by the Court as “egregious,” potentially warranting stronger disciplinary measures.
The Senator also criticized what he described as the reluctance of relevant institutions to take prompt action, arguing that legislative oversight becomes necessary when enforcement agencies fail to uphold the law.
“We are not taking advantage of our authority, and this is not political,” Dillon stated. “We are saying that the Director General of the Civil Service Agency should be the first person to uphold the Code of Conduct. No one should be above the law.”
Dillon’s remarks followed the presentation of a report by the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, Claims and Petitions, which investigated a complaint filed by Gbarpolu County Senator Amara Konneh against the CSA Director-General.
The committee concluded that the NIMBO event was “unmistakably political in nature” and found that Joekai violated Part V, Section 5.1 of the National Code of Conduct by participating in prohibited political activities while serving as a presidential appointee.
According to the committee’s findings, evidence showed that Joekai attended the event wearing a NIMBO-branded T-shirt, publicly associating himself with the political movement. The committee rejected his defense that he attended solely in an official capacity alongside President Boakai, noting that wearing the movement’s political apparel undermined that explanation.
Based on its findings, the committee recommended that President Joseph Nyuma Boakai consider appropriate administrative sanctions against the CSA Director-General, including a formal written reprimand, suspension without pay, or removal from office if deemed appropriate.
The matter has intensified public debate over the enforcement of Liberia’s National Code of Conduct and the expectation of political neutrality among presidential appointees, particularly those entrusted with overseeing the country’s civil service.
