The Director of the Public Sector Reform Unit (PSRU), Sulaiman Phoray-Musa, has shared insights into a three-day exercise aimed at validating the Master Plan for the revamp of the Public Service Architecture. This initiative seeks to create a roadmap for transformative public service reforms, engaging key stakeholders within the sector to collaboratively assess and address the challenges ahead.
Speaking in an interview on AYV TV, on October 23, 2024, Mr. Phoray-Musa emphasized that the validation process would concentrate on identifying challenges and proposing actionable recommendations and best practices. A comprehensive implementation matrix will guide the execution of the strategy developed during this exercise.
"We will converge at the New Brookfield Hotel on the 24th to 26th October, 2024 to scrutinize the document's specifics and decide how to move forward," he stated, highlighting the ministry's role in facilitating discussions and serving as the driving force behind the public service overhaul over the next five years.
Understanding the historical context is crucial, according to Phoray-Musa. Since the end of the civil war in Sierra Leone, numerous reforms including civil service reform, justice sector reform, and governance reform have aimed to improve institutional capacities. He noted that significant resources have been invested to strengthen these institutions, resulting in tangible benefits for citizens.
The validation theme revolves around “We Reform to Revamp,” and its guiding principles of the transformative strategy: Transparency, Accountability, and Inclusion. Phoray-Musa underscored the need for transparency in recruitment processes to ensure fairness and equal opportunity for all individuals vying for positions within the public service.
Reflecting on past reforms between 1991 and 2002, he mentioned the role of the International Military Advisory and Training Team (IMMAT) in supporting the military and the Sierra Leone Police, leading to the establishment of key institutions such as the Office of National Security and others. Other significant advancements include gender reforms, the Child Rights Act, the establishment of the Teaching Service Commission in 2010, Anti-Corruption and public Financial Management initiatives.
Despite these achievements, Phoray-Musa pointed out systemic issues within the public service, including poorly defined mandates, duplication of functions, outdated policies, and inadequate coordination. Many existing regulations dated back to the 1960s, which are ill-suited for modern governance.
He emphasized the pressing need to address human resource capabilities and inadequate funding as critical barriers to effective reform.
In recognition of these challenges, the government created the Ministry of Public Administration and Political Affairs following the June 2023 elections. The ministry aims to consolidate reforms and streamline processes across the public sector.
“The ministry is new, and we are committed to clarifying its mandate and function. A technical working group was established to define the ministry's roles and a Management and Functional review was conducted to evaluate its position amid various stakeholders in the public sector,” Phoray-Musa explained.
He also outlined the eight guiding pillars from the Medium Term National Development Plan, designed to revamp the public service architecture. These include structural alignment of ministries to national priorities, enhancing human resources to attract top talent, and the establishment of the Wages and Compensation Commission to harmonize salaries across the public sector.
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