ABC Secretariat engages civil servants
Attitudinal and Behavioural Change (ABC) Secretariat on Tuesday 28th August 2012 successfully ended a one-day seminar for civil servants. The seminar focused on the core values of the civil service and how civil servants can restore and retain these core values for national cohesion and development. (Participants singing the national pledge)
The workshop held at the Miatta Conference Hall with the theme: ‘Professionalism, Impartiality, Transparency, Neutrality, Selflessness and Integrity’, attracted hundreds of civil and public servants.
Executive Director giving his welcome address
In his welcome address, the Executive Director of ABC Secretariat, Dr. Ivan Ajibola Thomas, disclosed that Sierra Leone used to have a very efficient and effective civil service. According to him, the country’s civil service was adequately and enviably servicing other African countries including Nigeria, The Gambia and Ghana.
“Over the years however, political interference and politicization of the civil service have succeeded in speedily reversing those gains,” Dr. Thomas said, noting that the workshop was aimed at serving as a memory-jogger on the role of civil servants as prescribed by the Civil Service Code.
He expressed optimism that the workshop will revive the enthusiasm and commitment of top civil servants towards the implementation of the core values of the civil service.
“The must to regain the past glory of the country’s civil service cannot be overemphasized,” he said, adding “we must have a performing civil service workforce to regain the lost glory against all odds.”
Mr Ernest Surrur making his statement
Director-General Human Resource Management Office (HRMO), Ernest S.A Surrur, attempted to distinguish between civil and public servants respectively.
Public servants, he said, are officials of public offices that receive emolument from public funds, whilst civil servants are those officials that go through the rigorous public service commission process.
“Ministers fall under the category of public servants, while Permanent Secretaries are civil servants,” he explained.
Mr. Surrur pointed out that many a time, civil servants are being blamed for the non-performance of public servants.
He emphasized the need for civil servants to put up the right attitude in serving the public. He said it is a must for civil servants to always ensure the proper, efficient and effective use of public funds. He noted that civil servants must try their best to retain the confidence of their ministers and the public by being neutral and transparent in all they do.
He used the forum as an opportunity to advise civil servants to depoliticize themselves; formulate and implement proper government policies and above all stay loyal to the government of the day.
“Civil servants have no need to be politically inclined,” he said, emphasizing that decisions made by civil servants should always be in the best interest of the state.
“No matter the resources of a country, all would be considered a waste if civil servants lack the ethos of integrity, impartiality, loyalty and professionalism,” he noted, pointing out that everything will work out for good if civil servants put to practice the right attitude to their work.
Mr Buya Kamara, Deputy Commissioner, ACC
When he took the podium, the Deputy Commissioner of the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC), Morlai Buya Kamara buttressed the earlier assertion of the ABC Boss, noting that service delivery was unquestionable in the past record of the country’s civil service. He emphasized that development by then was rapid, but expressed frustration that all of that has been eroded as a result of corruption, which has become the order of the day in the civil service. According to him, desperate measures are required by the civil service if only the country is to succeed.
Civil servants, he said, are flouting the Civil Service Code with impunity. The ACC Deputy Commissioner welcomed the efforts of the ABC Secretariat to organise such a workshop ahead of a crucial general election.
While warning civil servants to desist from being partisan, Mr. Kamara disclosed that the ACC is closely monitoring and will not hesitate to name and shame individuals that will attempt to use government property for politics.
He called on the government to provide the requisite tools for civil servants to work and succeed. He further stressed on the need for civil servants to be given the administrative free hand to do their work. He added that the ACC is supportive of the ideal of the workshop.
Members of the high table with the Chairman Abdulai Bayraytay holding the microphone
Speaking on behalf of National Telecommunications Commission (NATCOM) the Director of Corporate Resources, Abass Kamara informed his audience that NATCOM supported the ideal of the seminar because it believes in a formidable and effective corrupt-free civil service. He maintained that a civil service that is corrupt-free boosts development, adding that the importance of the civil service cannot be overemphasized. He called on the participants to use the knowledge gained at the seminar to improve the civil service in the country.
- National Coordinator and Second-in-Command introducing the keynote speaker
Dr Modupeh Taylor-Pearce, Keynote speaker
The keynote speaker Dr. Modupeh Taylor-Pearce who is also the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Sierra Leone, informed his audience that he believes that the civil service has the potential to grow. He went on to say that all civil servants need to do is to implement the words on the National Pledge and National Anthem with sincerity and sense of purpose and things would dramatically change for the better. He added that the present generation of civil servants is bound to succeed and make Sierra Leone a great nation that all would be proud of. He said, “attitude is best caught, not taught.” Dilating further, he reminded the civil servants present that they should always endeavor to deliver the highest standard of service in the execution of their duties and act within the ambits of the law and with diligence, honor, selflessness, transparency, integrity and professionalism.
Hon I B Kargbo officially launching the workshop
Formally launching the workshop after the Pro-Chancellor’s speech, the Minister of Information and Communication, Alhaji Ibrahim Ben Kargbo bemoaned the educational standard of civil servants. He maintained that the sort of language used in some of their correspondences is ridiculous and unexpected of people that are supposed to be at the heart of government business. He added however that he is very proud of the ABC Secretariat because it is one of the most efficient arms in the Ministry of Information and Communication. He used the opportunity to congratulate both Dr. Thomas and Madam Nanette Thomas for taking the ABC to a higher level and for achieving so much in such little time.
Mr Val Collier delivering his statement
The chairman of the occasion Abdulai Bayraytay is the National Publicity and Outreach Coordinator in the Ministry of Information and Communication. The keynote speaker was introduced by Madam Nanette Thomas the ABC National Coordinator and Second-in-Command while the vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Ivan Ajibola Thomas.
ABC Communications Office
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