The Attitudinal and Behavioural Change (ABC) Secretariat has held a one-day seminar for civil servants, which 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,” according to a release from the ABC secretariat.
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, the release says.
Executive Director of ABC Secretariat, Dr. Ivan Ajibola Thomas said Sierra Leone used to have a very efficient and effective civil service which was adequately and enviably servicing other African countries including Nigeria, The Gambia and Ghana.
He lamented, however, that political interference over the years had reversed that trend. He expressed optimism that the workshop would 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.
Director-General of the Human Resource Management Office, Ernest Surrur said public servants are officials of public offices who receive their emoluments from public funds, whilst civil servants are those officials who 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 emphasised the need for civil servants to put up the right attitude in serving the public and to always ensure the proper, efficient and effective use of public funds.
He advised civil servants to depoliticise 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 they make 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.
Deputy Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission, Morlai Buya Kamara expressed frustration that the glory days of the country’s civil service had eroded as a result of corruption, which he said had become the order of the day in the service. He said desperate measures were required by the civil service if only the country was to progress.
While warning civil servants to desist from being partisan, Mr. Kamara disclosed that the ACC is closely monitoring and would not hesitate to name and shame individuals who will attempt to use government assets for political reasons.
He called on the government to provide the requisite tools for civil servants to work and succeed, adding that they be given the free hand to do their work.
In his keynote speech Dr. Modupeh Taylor-Pearce, who is also the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Sierra Leone, said that he believedthe civil service had the potential to grow. He went on to say that all civil servants needed to do was to implement the words on the National Pledge and National Anthem with sincerity and sense of purpose.
He added that the present generation of civil servants was bound to succeed and make Sierra Leone a great nation that all would be proud of. “Attitude is best caught, not taught,” he went on.
Formally launching the workshop after the Pro-Chancellor’s speech, Minister of Information and Communication, Alhaji Ibrahim Ben Kargbo bemoaned the educational standard of civil servants. He said the sort of language used in some of their correspondences is ridiculous and unexpected of people supposed to be at the heart of government business.
