“Civil servants should be sensitive to political interests” says ABC Super-Boss

The Executive Director of Attitudinal and Behavioral Change (ABC) Secretariat, otherwise known as the ABC Super-Boss, Dr. Ivan Ajibola Thomas, (in photo) has noted the importance for civil servants to be sensitive to political interests.

“It is important that civil servants are sensitive to political interests,” Dr. Thomas disclosed last week Tuesday at the Miatta Conference Hall, during the ABC workshop for civil servants.

According to him, both administrators (civil servants) and politicians are engaged in policy-making, and both are concerned with politics.

“However, the political interests to which, the civil servants remain sensitive are focused, for their world is defined by departmental boundaries,” he emphasized.

The erudite ABC Super-Boss stated that both politicians and civil servants participate in making policy, each making distinctive contributions.

“Civil Servants bring fact and knowledge; politicians bring interests and values,” he explained.

Civil Servants, he said, are expected to remain neutral and emphasize the technical efficacy of the policy, while politicians emphasize its responsiveness.

Dr. Thomas explained further that “administrators should be responsive to political direction, but their responsiveness should not make the bureaucracy a partisan fighter for politically defined policy”.

The dynamic ABC Boss disclosed that Political control and supervision is “the overriding constitutional convention, which regulates the whole (civil) service.”

The learned doctor informed the audience that ‘the Constitution of Sierra Leone is unequivocal about the superintending authority of the Minister, but also emphasised the unquestionable relevance of the Civil Servant’.

On the way forward, Dr. Thomas stressed that “Team-building in the ministry is imperative; Ministers and (senior) Civil Servants must have respect for each other; Civil Servants should recognize the Minister as the political head; Ministers should recognize the fact that Civil Servants are critical partners in running the affairs of the Ministry; Civil Servants courted by Ministers to be transferred to their (Ministers) ministries should politely resist; and among other things, Ministers and Civil Servants must have the fear of God in them, for as the Sacred Books say, the Fear of God is the beginning of Wisdom”.

The National Telecommunications Commission (NATCOM) was the sole sponsor for the workshop that attracted hundreds of civil servants from various government ministries, departments and agencies.

On behalf of NATCOM, a moving and eloquent presentation was made by the institution’s Director of Corporate Resources, Abass Kamara. The interesting and educative NATCOM presentation did not go unnoticed by the audience, as open commendations were made to that effect.

Also, special praises for the intervention of the NATCOM Boss, Mr. Siray Timbo, in sponsoring such a workshop at a crucial time like this, were recorded.

Apart from this, the ABC Secretariat has issued out a press statement, expressing thanks and appreciation for the patriotic role played by NATCOM.

Siray Timbo, NATCOM’s Boss is also on record for always being willing to sponsor causes that hinge on patriotism and development. Thank you Mr. Mover and Shaker of the Telecommunications Industry. Sierra Leone needs more people of your kind.

ABC Communications Office

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