By: Lamin B. Darboe
Information Officer, MoPS
The Secretary-General (SG) and Head of the Civil Service, on Tuesday, explained that validating Public Service Bill 2023 is dictated by a dire need for change and is in line with the transformative agenda of the Public Service.
Ms. Salimatou E. T. Touray made this remark on Tuesday while addressing a gathering at a daylong validation workshop of the Public Service Bill 2023 at Bakadaji Hotel, Kololi.
SG Touray therefore stated that the Public Service Act has been in existence since 1991, adding that the Act provides the basis for civil service administration.
She however explained that the Act was vastly inadequate in meeting the varied needs and expectations, considering their current realization and the changing times of public administration.
According to SG Touray, the deficiencies of the Act hamper the implementation of their day-to-day operations, as such, she continued, reviewing this vital tool in administering the civil service was long overdue.
The head of civil service explained that the revised Act will therefore address current limitations around recruitment, discipline, promotions, performance management, service delivery, and policy coordination.
“This revision is essential to guarantee civil servants an effective and efficient Human Resource service, institute a more functional policy environment, and ensure effective and efficient policy service delivery,” the Secretary-General stated.
According to her, the adoption of the revised document will also motivate civil servants to perform optimally and reinforce their retention strategy of trained and skilled personnel, ensuring a coordinated policy and environment and a satisfied citizenry.
She informed participants that a committee was established to review the Public Service Act 1991 and they (the committee) proposed changes to the Management of the Ministry.
She went on that the said committee spent an extended period conducting wide-ranging consultations adding that oversight institutions and civil society organizations were part of the institutions consulted along with Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
The outcome of these consultations, Ms. Touray added, led to the development of a draft that was further subjected to internal validation, adding that in keeping with good practice, the validation of bill 2023 will provide the opportunity for further scrutiny and Deliberations on the draft bill.