By: Lamin B. Darboe
Information Officer, MoPS
The Minister of Public Service, Administrative Reforms, Policy Coordination and Delivery has emphasized that civil service is the vehicle through which the Government executes its public strategy.
Honorable Baboucarr Bouy made this remark last Tuesday as he delivered his opening speech at a daylong validation workshop centered on Public Service Bill 2023, the validation was held at Bakadaji Hotel, Kololi.
“The growth of the civil service to meet the increasing demands and expectations of the public calls for coordination and improvement in governance for better service delivery,” Minister Bouy explained.
In this regard, Minister Bouy went on, it is critical to undertake a close review of the Draft Public Service Bill 2023 as it is an important instrument not only to support and direct the Ministry’s operations but will potentially serve as the principal legal framework of the civil service.
Minister Bouy therefore gave the importance of the Public Service Bill 2023, while noting that the urgent need for validation cannot be over-emphasized as it will mark an important milestone in the process of enacting the law which will be guiding the operations of the public service in the next decade or so.
“As a Ministry, we believe our engagement with all relevant national stakeholders, including Ministries, oversight institutions, and civil society organizations (CSOs) in a forum like this, will enrich the Public Service Bill 2023,” said Minister Bouy.
Seeing the wide range of sectors and expertise represented at the forum, the Public Service Minister added, was indeed very encouraging, adding that the participant’s professional experience and institutional background are extremely important in ensuring that they came out with a document that would stand the test of time.
Minister Bouy however stated that for his Ministry to effectively deliver on its mandate, it requires legislative backing given that the operations of such a government portfolio have to be properly guided and regulated.
He informed his Ministry’s stakeholders that the recommendation to review the Public Service Act 1991 was approved by the Cabinet and subsequently work started in earnest.
“Let me finally register on behalf of my Ministry staff especially the committee that was set up to review the Public Service Act 1991. Our sincere thanks to all of you (participants) for your input in improving the bill to reflect the realities of our Public Service,” Minister Bouy concluded.