IPNEWS: A total of 2,718 government employees have been earmarked for retirement at the close of December 2026, as the Civil Service Agency (CSA) concludes a nationwide exercise aimed at improving retirement planning and ensuring timely access to pension benefits for departing public servants.
Dr. Joekai reported that among the 2,718 employees expected to retire on December 31, 2026, males account for 2,125, representing 78.2 percent, while females constitute 593, or 21.8 percent.
He clarified that the additional 117 individuals captured during the exercise are not part of the December retirement cohort but represent unresolved pension cases involving former public servants who retired between 2020 and 2024 without having their pension benefits activated.
The CSA chief explained that the nationwide initiative was designed to establish accurate retirement records, identify employees approaching the end of their public service careers, provide pre-retirement guidance, and eliminate administrative bottlenecks that have contributed to delays in pension payments.
A breakdown of the figures shows that the Ministry of Education leads government institutions with 1,493 employees scheduled for retirement. The Ministry of Health follows with 300, while the Ministry of Local Government accounts for 297. Other government spending entities collectively recorded 628 prospective retirees.
He said the CSA is currently reviewing the relevant records and forwarding the required documentation to the National Social Security and Welfare Corporation (NASSCORP) for verification and subsequent pension processing.
Dr. Joekai credited the improved retirement administration process to stronger institutional coordination between the CSA and NASSCORP, noting that the partnership has enhanced employee data verification, documentation, and pension enrollment.
Reflecting on previous interventions, the Director-General recalled that a similar exercise conducted in 2024 identified 294 former public servants who had retired between 2018 and 2023 without receiving their pension benefits. Of that number, he said, 284 cases were successfully processed, with the affected retirees now receiving their monthly pensions.
Meanwhile, the CSA has projected that employees retiring on December 31, 2026, will commence receiving their monthly pension benefits in January 2027, provided they successfully complete NASSCORP’s verification and enrollment requirements.
Beyond their regular pension entitlements, eligible retirees are also expected to benefit from a one-time government retirement handshake package in recognition of their years of dedicated service to the country.
According to Dr. Joekai, employees captured within the extended period are expected to begin receiving their pension payments in February 2027, with their January entitlement paid retroactively, subject to the completion of all necessary verification and enrollment procedures.
He therefore called on public servants who have not completed their retirement documentation to take advantage of the extension and finalize the process before the November 30 deadline. He also urged human resource directors across government institutions to provide the necessary assistance to employees.
The CSA Director-General reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving public sector retirement management, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that employees who have devoted years of service to Liberia can retire with dignity, financial stability, and timely access to their legitimate benefits.
