Public Sector Reform Unit

Public Sector Reform Unit (PSRU) Conducts a Week Long Consultative Workshop on the Draft Bill and Regulatory Instrument for the Wages and Compensation Commission

As a continuation of the first phase of regional consultation on the Wages and Compensation Commission, the Public Sector Reform Unit, a subvented department in the Cabinet Secretariat (CabSec) in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance (M*F), Human Resource Management Office (HRMO) and Public Service Commission (PSC) has completed a regional workshop for Civil and Public Servants on the Draft Bill and Regulatory Instrument for the Wages and Compensation Commission (WCC) from the 6th- 10th May, 2019 in Kenema, Bo, Makeni and Portloko.

The primary objective of the consultative workshop was geared towards engendering the views, and expectations of Civil/Public Servants with respect to the provisions of the Draft Bill and Regulatory Instrument for the proposed commission.

The sessions were chaired by the Provincial Secretaries in Kenema, Bo, Makeni and Portloko respectively and key statements were made by the Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon Adekunle King, Hon Daniel Koroma, Chairman of Legislative Committee, Hon Moses Edwin, Deputy chairman Finance Committee, Commissioner North, PSC, Mr Mohamed Rakka Lonko Koroma; the Director, PSRU, Mrs Georgiana Kamara, who declared the purpose of the workshop; Rep from Cabinet Secretariat, Mr Patrick Sama, Representative from HRMO, Mr Patrick Kawa and Mr Imran Sillah, Information and Media adviser, Strategic and Communications Unit, Ministry of Information and Communications.

The work shop was climaxed by the presentation of a Draft Bill and Regulatory instrument on the proposed Wages and Compensation Commission, by the international Consultant, Mr George- Smith Graham.

In his presentation, he spoke about the powers of the Commission to include amongst others: acquire, hold charge and dispose of movable and immovable property; and do or perform such other things or acts for the proper discharge of its functions under the constitution and this Act may lawfully be done or performed by a body corporate.

He further pointed out that the regulations shall apply to the general Government institutions, including State Owned Enterprises. According to Mr Smith-Graham, the Commission shall within two years after the bill being passed in parliament, and coming into effect of the Act, develop a unique Job Evaluation methodology for Sierra Leone taking into consideration best practices from across the globe.

In concluding, Mr Smith-Graham said the administrative expenses of the Commission including all salaries, allowances, gratuities and pensions payable to or in respect of persons serving in the commission will be paid from the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

The presentations were followed by a lengthy Q&A session during which Civil/ Public Servants required clarifications on various questions including: appointment of the CEO of the Commission, tenure of office of the CEO and Commissioners and independence of the Commission in implementing its mandate.

The participants accentuated the aptness of such initiatives by Government and called for more consistent engagement with Civil/ Public Servants.

Haroun Sheriff
Senior Programme Analyst - *Communications
8 Wesley Street

Public Sector Reform Unit (PSRU) holds Consultative Workshop with Civil/Public Servants in Freetown on the Establishment of the Wages and Compensation Commission(WCC)

As a continuation of the regional tour on appraising Civil /Public Servants on the establishment of the Wages and Compensation Commission, the Public Sector Reform Unit, a subvented department in the Cabinet Secretariat (CabSec) in collaboration ministry of Finance (M*F), Human Resource Management Office (HRMO) and Public Service Commission held a consultative workshop for Civil/ Public Servants on the 25th Aprl, 2019 at the St Anthony’s Parish Hall, Syke Steet.

The objective of the consultative workshop was to record the views, concerns and expectations of Civil/Public Servants, in order to address the growing concerns of inequities in the Civil/Public Service salary structures, which have over the years affected productivity and effective service delivery.

The session was chaired by the Commissioner North from Public Service Commission, Mr M.R Koroma, followed by key statements made by the Head of Civil Service and Secretary to Cabinet, Mr John Sumailah, the Director General, HRMO, Mr Ansu Tucker, the Director, PSRU, Mrs Georgiana Kamara, who declared the purpose of the workshop and the Financial Secretary, Mr SahrJusu.

In reaffirming Government’s commitment in establishing the WCC, Mr Sahr Jusu, assured participants that the Ministry of Finance (M*F) will continue to provide the necessary support needed to set up the Commission before the end of 2019.

Statements were preceded by the presentation of an inception report on the Establishment of Wages and Compensation Commission by the international Consultant, Mr George- Smith Graham.

In his presentation, he said the establishment of the WCC is to address disparities in pay and remuneration in the Public Sector of Sierra Leone, as well streamline the pensions system in the Public Service, as highlighted in the 2019 budget and financial statement of the Government of Sierra Leone.

He informed participants that the inception report is one of the first steps towards the establishment of the WCC in Sierra Leone.

Mr Smith-Graham also said Sierra Leone is gradually moving from pay and pension’s strategy to implementation and it has all the elements for a fair, transparent and equitable Public Sector pay and pensions regime.

In concluding, he said the fundamental functions of the Commission, amongst others includes: determine and review the emoluments, remunerations and other conditions of service payable and available to all Public Office holders and employees in accordance with their job functions and prevailing economic conditions and determine salaries and other benefits of the heads and management of these institutions. These are the Public Sector agencies and institutions established by Government as commercial entities with public funds to provide public goods and services.

The presentations were followed by a lengthy Q&A session during which Civil/ Public Servants sought clarifications on various questions including: salary disparity in the Civil Service, commencement of the WCC and promotions in the Civil Service.

The participants underscored the timeliness of such intervention by Government and called for more regular engagement with Civil/ Public Servants.

Haroun Sheriff,
Senior Programme Analyst- Communications
Public Sector Reform Unit
8 Wesley Street

PRESS RELEASE

PUBLIC SECTOR REFORM UNIT (PSRU) CONDUCTS A WEEK LONG FOCUS GROUP ENGAGEMENT ON THE SIERRA LEONE PAY AND PEFORMANCE PROJECT FOR CIVIL SERVANTS

The Public Sector Reform Unit, in the Office of the President, conducted a week long Focus Group Engagement on the Sierra Leone Pay and Performance Project for over fourty-0ne (41) middle and senior level Civil Servants from across the twenty- four 24 ministries.

These Focus Group Engagements were held from the 25th -28th September, 2017 at the PSRU conference room Wesley Street. The objective of the Focus Group Engagement was to update and share progress being made within the Civil Service, through the implementation of the Sierra Leone Pay and Performance Project. The discussions focused on updating Civil Servants on and building confidence in the Reform Process, particularly with regards to Pay Reform, Performance Management and Recruitment and Staffing.

The Sessions were Chaired by Mr Ahmed A Ahmed, Head of Programmes, PSRU who was joined by several presenters including, the Director, HR Planning and Budgeting, Human Resource Management Office (HRMO); the Director, Performance Management Directorate Human Resource Management Office (HRMO); Monitoring and Evaluation Manager, Public Service Commission (PSC) and Communication Officer PSRU.

Ahmed A Ahmed Head of Programmes, PSRU, making his presentation
The Chairman in his welcome address thanked the participants for attending the Focus Group Engagement. He made a presentation on the core functions and activities of the PSRU and accentuated the importance of the Sierra Leone Pay and Performance Project for Civil servants. He said the Pay &Performance Project supports the implementation of the Government’s Flagship Public Sector Reform Programme, including three key components for the Civil Service, namely (i) Pay Reform (ii) Recruitment & Staffing and (iii) Performance Management and Accountability.

He said, the USD $17 Million Project has so far contributed USD US$11 Million to the Government’s Consolidated Fund through the achievement of Disbursement Linked Indicators.
In concluding, he said these are the first of series of such engagements that will be held across the country.
In her presentation on the Pay Reform component of the project, Director of HR and Planning and Budgeting, HRMO Mrs Georgiana Kamara stressed on the importance of the Job Evaluation and Labour Market Survey (JE&LMS). She said implementation of the JE&LMS is intended to ensure that Public Sector pay and incentive system is not only able to attract and retain the requisite skills but that it is also applied in a consistent and sustainable manner so that public sector pay fairly reflects the work that public or civil servants actually perform. She concluded that a revised salary and grading structure based on job evaluation scheme will be done for the Civil Service.

Mrs Georgiana Kamara Director HR and Planning, HRMO making her presentation
The Director of Performance Management, HRMO Mr Osman Conteh, giving an Update, said HRMO have signed Performance Contracts with senior Civil Servants (Permanent Secretaries and Professional Heads) and introduced the Individual Performance Appraisal System (IPAS) which was a vast improvement on the Annual Confidential Report to which the employee had little input. The IPAS will enable Civil Servants to perform better and to be accountable. This in turn he said will enhance efficient and effective service delivery.

The Monitoring and evaluation Manager, Public Service Commission (PSC) Mr Daniel B Banya informed the participants that PSC has restricted itself to meet the daunting challenges of ensuring transparent and merit-based recruitment process. He said the PSC has recruited 805 middle-level qualified and competent Sierra Leoneans into the Civil Service through a fair and credible process.

The Communication Officer, Public Sector Reform Unit, Mr Haroun Sheriff in his presentation on the project’s Communication Strategy, underscored the importance of information dissemination on the ongoing reform programme. He informed the participants that a total of 75 tv and radio programmes on the Projects and Public Sector Reforms have been held so far on AYV Television every Thursdays at 7pm. He updated the participants on other outreach activities, such as District sensitisations, University Symposia, Parliamentary Engagement and Press Briefings that have been held across the country successfully.

The presentations were followed by a lengthy interactive Q&A session during which Civil Servants sought clarifications on various questions, including: salary disparity in the Civil service, training capacity building of Civil servants; Quarterly Political and Administrative Forums and the issue of Local Technical Assistants (LTAs) in the Civil Service.

These were ably answered by the relevant panellists. All the speakers underscored the timeliness of such initiative by the PSRU and called for more regular engagement with Civil Servants and the general public.

PSRU
8 Wesley Street
Freetown