The Ministry of Information and Civic Education weekly press conference on October 5, 2024, highlighted recent initiatives aimed at overhauling Sierra Leone’s public sector. Senior officials, including Media Adviser Imran Silla, Deputy Minister of Public Administration and Political Affairs, Philip Tetema Tondoneh, and Chairman of the Public Service Commission Kalilu O. Bah, shared insights into the government’s comprehensive Strategic Master Plan. The following are the key highlights:
♦️ Political Commitment to Public Sector Transformation
The Media Adviser for the Ministry of Information and Civic Education, Imran Silla, emphasized that the administration of His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio is making a substantial effort to reform Sierra Leone’s public sector. Silla highlighted the “Big 5” initiative as a testament to the Bio administration’s political will to address persistent challenges, aiming to transform the sector into a more effective service delivery mechanism.
♦️ Strategic Master Plan for Public Service Revitalization
Deputy Minister of Public Administration and Political Affairs Philip Tetema Tondoneh outlined the eight pillars of the new Strategic Master Plan designed to overhaul Sierra Leone’s public service. He explained that the plan is structured to establish an efficient, high-performing public service framework to support national development goals. The plan’s eight pillars include:
1. Structural Alignment and Mandate Rationalization
2. Human Resource Management
3. Public Sector Coordination and Management
4. Monitoring and Evaluation, Performance Management for Effective Service Delivery
5. E-Governance
6. Pay and Incentives
7. Gender and Social Inclusion
8. Communication and Citizens' Engagement
The Master Plan was validated on October 24-25, 2024, with participation from various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), civil society, and other stakeholders.
♦️ Addressing Wage Disparities and Enhancing HR Management
Kalilu O. Bah, Chairman of the Public Service Commission (PSC), underscored the need for a robust public sector as the foundation of national development. He pointed out wage disparities across the public sector, noting that a newly established Wages and Compensation Commission will address these inconsistencies. Chairman Bah also announced ongoing efforts to draft a Public Service Act, which currently does not exist.
♦️ Coordinating Reforms for Effective Service Delivery
Sulaiman Phoray-Musa, Director of the Public Service Reform Unit (PSRU), provided a historical perspective on previous reform efforts in sectors like security, justice, health, and anti-corruption. However, he noted that these efforts were often fragmented, limiting their impact. In 2023, President Bio established the Ministry of Public Administration and Political Affairs to address this gap, coordinating reform efforts across sectors. The Strategic Master Plan, developed by the Ministry in collaboration with the PSRU and PSC, is a unified approach to revamping the public service architecture, recently validated by stakeholders.
©️ Ministry of Information and Civic Education
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