By Lamin B. Darboe
Information Officer, PMO
The Civil Service Reforms has been one of the many important reforms pronouncement made by government since 2017. To this effect it has come up with a ten-year initiative called Civil Service Reform Programme (CSRP 2018-2027).
The Personnel Management Office (PMO) is responsible for recruitment and management of civil servants; and therefore tasked with the responsibility of coordinating the implementation of the CSRP 2018-2027.
Sherrif Jallow is the Director of the Civil Service Reform and Planning Unit at the Personnel Management Office and this interview he explained what the recently approved CSRP is all about and what it intends to achieve, which includes the ‘systematic closure of capacity gaps in the civil service’.
He informed that aside capacity enhancement as a key strategic objective, the programme has five more strategic objectives and they are as follows: to enhance optimal organisation and staffing of the public sector, to attract, retain and motivate optimal number of civil service employees, to enhance discipline, performance and accountability of civil servants, to reinforce meritocracy with due processes and professionalism in personnel administration, to accelerate improvements in civil service delivery by harnessing ICT.
He affirmed that these six CSRP strategic objectives are to be pursued for the period 2018-2027 and that approval by cabinet marks the start of the implementation by PMO.
Further on, Jallow explained that cabinet support received on the implementation in the country, Mr. Jallow cited numerous cabinet paper approvals on matters affecting CSRP whenever the need arises.
Director Jallow made reference to institutional reform as something paramount in the program adding that the CSRP has two categories such as institutional and personnel reforms.
He called on public and the civil service in particular to give maximum support to the program for the benefit and welfare of citizenry and described the 2018-2027 reform program as one of the longest term compare to other reform programs which were short term in nature.
He justified his claim with reference to other CSRPs such as the 2008-2011which he said were all short term programs compare to the current one.
He noted that a country like The Gambia, not endowed with many resources, makes it all the more important to continuously strive to improve government operations for greater efficiency and effectiveness.
He gave assurances of his office’s commitment to deliver as expected and also welcome valuable criticisms from civil servants and the public on the implementation of CSRP 2018-27, which is critical in helping them during the implementation process.
“It will also help us to know where we need improvement in our reform programs and thus entail listening to the views of civil servants and the public for valuable information and feedback,” he concluded.