World Bank reinforces Sierra Leone Govt. civil service reforms
Officials of the World Bank in the United States of America have agreed to fully support the ongoing Public Sector Reform Program undertaken by the government of President Ernest Bai Koroma. (Photo: l-r: Principal legal officer Keikura Bangura, Director General Human Resource Management Ernest Surrur, Accountant General Kebbe Koroma & Dr. Julius Sandy leader of the delegation)
According to head of Public Service Reform (PSR) Unit Dr. Julius Sandy, government is working on a program that will improve productivity through management and pay reform
He said the World Bank accepted Government proposal to recruit quality staff competitively based on merit; motivate employees through pay reforms and performance appraisal based on periodic monitoring and maintenance.
Dr. Sandy said the World Bank has given full support to the program that will see Government offices fully equipped and modernized within a three year period.
“As I speak, the civil service has been upgraded; from grade one to seventeen (1-17), and promotional assessments are purely based on performance and merit.
“The pay of Civil servants is going to be reformed –thereby making it very attractive to enable them fully complies with laws governing official tasks and assignments.
“In addition, the government is very determine to create more lucrative opportunities for its workforce to make it more difficult for them to leave the civil service for other jobs.” Said Dr. Julius Sandy
L-r: Director Economic Policy & Research Unit Mr. Alimamy Bangura, Director of Budget , Budget Bureau Mr. Matthew Dingie
According to Director General Human of Resource Management Office (HRMO)Mr. Ernest Surrur, recruitment and staffing now falls under the purview of the Public Service Commission (PSC) which is now fully in charge of recruiting personnel for all government institutions.
According to him, performance appraisal of personnel and Management can now be done by the office of the Human Resource Management (HRMO) while, Pay reform and other benefits are being handled by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development.
“We drew a plan which became a working document, and found out the cost implications, which was not within the coffers of government, but with the expressed permission of the Establishment Minister, President Ernest Bai Koroma, we (PSC, PSRU, and HRMO& Ministry of Finance) drew up a program and approached the International Community.
“The European Union(EU),Department of International Development(DFID) made some contributions, but because we don’t want the implementation of the program to be delayed, we approached the World Bank which officials gave some tasking conditions, which after fulfillment can see their interventions. “We fulfill their conditions, hence our coming to the USA for attendance to its spring meeting.
Head of Public Service Commission Mr. Val Collier described the meeting as “very successful. “Deliberations were frank and we got what we wanted.”
“Our document was well presented, and we made our case. At the end of the day, our document became a talking document for the World Bank, because reference was constantly made to Sierra Leone.
Other members of the Sierra Leone delegation were Accountant General Mr. Kebbe Koroma, Director of Budget Mr. Matthew Dingie, Director Economic Policy and Research Unit Ministry of Finance, Mr. Alimamy Bangura, Principal State Council Mr. Kei kura Bangura and Mr. Paul M.E. Kamara Financial attaché Embassy of Sierra Leone, USA.
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