By: Thaimu Bai Sesay
In a ground-breaking step toward modernizing Sierra Leone’s public service, the government has announced a comprehensive overhaul to introduce a fully electronic recruitment system for government jobs.
This major reform, led by the Public Service Reform Unit (PSRU), aims to streamline recruitment processes, enhance efficiency, and foster inclusivity in service delivery.
At a recent press briefing held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, Sulaiman Phoray-Musa, Director of the PSRU, shared the ambitious vision, underscoring the need for a unified, modern approach to public sector management.
He noted that while significant reforms have been made in key sectors, such as security, justice, and health, those efforts have largely been fragmented and poorly coordinated, resulting in inefficiencies and challenges for both the government and its donors.
“President Bio has given this a critical rethink, focusing on harmonizing all these fragmented reforms,” Director Phoray-Musa said, acknowledging the need for a cohesive approach. He explained that one of the key lessons learned was the duplication of efforts among institutions, with many agencies performing overlapping roles and competing for the same resources.
This has led to disparities in salaries and a lack of clarity around roles and responsibilities across various public sector institutions.
Phoray-Musa highlighted that to address those challenges, the Ministry organized one of the largest consultative conferences in the public sector’s history, gathering stakeholders from all sectors for open dialogue.
The outcome was a “Master Plan” a comprehensive roadmap to guide the reform process and align institutional roles with the government’s policy objectives, including the President’s “Big Five Game Changer” initiative.
The Master Plan focuses on eight critical areas designed to realign institutional mandates with national priorities. Phoray-Musa emphasized that, moving forward, the government would prioritize recruiting skilled professionals with the necessary expertise to drive effective governance.
This new direction includes a transition to an entirely electronic recruitment process.
Under the upcoming e-recruitment system, according to Director Phoray-Musa, applicants will be able to apply for government jobs through a streamlined digital platform, which will simplify hiring and reduce bureaucratic delays.
“This digital recruitment system will ensure that only people with relevant skills and competencies are considered,” Phoray-Musa stated. Additionally, he highlighted that this system would also implement performance contracts to boost accountability within the workforce.
Describing Sierra Leone’s current paper-based system as outdated and “humiliating” in the 21st century, Phoray-Musa emphasized the significance of transitioning to e-governance to facilitate a more efficient and transparent government.
A key aspect of the reforms is a commitment to gender and social inclusion. Phoray-Musa assured that the overhaul would actively promote women’s participation in decision-making roles and strengthen citizen engagement. The government plans to use both digital and traditional awareness-raising strategies to ensure that Sierra Leoneans are well-informed about these changes.
In concluding his remarks, Phoray-Musa expressed optimism that the Master Plan would serve as a transformative blueprint for Sierra Leone’s public service, making it a more efficient, accountable, and inclusive system that would better serve its citizens.
“This Master Plan will reshape our public sector into one that can effectively support and enhance service delivery in Sierra Leone,” he declared confidently.
The public sector overhaul represents a bold and promising shift, signing the government’s commitment to reform and modernization. With these reforms, Sierra Leone is poised to create a more responsive, transparent, and effective public service that reflects the needs and aspirations of its citizens.
