Monrovia – The Supreme Court of Liberia has delivered a landmark ruling in favor of Dr. Dougbeh Chris Nyan, former Director General of the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL), finding that his removal by the Executive Branch violated statutory law.
In a chambers decision issued by Associate Justice Jamesetta Howard Wolokolie, the Court granted a writ of prohibition, directing that Dr. Nyan either be reinstated to his position or receive full compensation and benefits for the remainder of his five-year statutory term.
Dr. Nyan had filed the petition in October 2025, challenging his dismissal by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., on the grounds that it contravened the NPHIL Act of 2016. The law protects the director general from arbitrary removal, allowing dismissal only for proven cause following an investigation and a formal resolution by the NPHIL Board.
Appointed on August 1, 2024, Dr. Nyan’s tenure carried contractual protections under the law, establishing a fixed term and shielding him from unilateral termination. The Supreme Court highlighted that while the Executive Branch possesses discretionary authority, such powers must be exercised within legal boundaries and with respect for constitutionally guaranteed job protections.
This ruling not only reinforces statutory safeguards for tenured public officials but also underscores the judiciary’s role in holding the Executive accountable when it oversteps legal authority.
