Jonathan tasks Africa’s public service commissions on accountability, trust

[TGD]

 THE second general assembly of the Association of African Public Service Commissions (AAPSComs) opened in Abuja yesterday with President Goodluck Jonathan charging them to imbibe the virtues of good governance, accountability and public trust as the best way to build a new Africa.

Jonathan also charged the participants "to fashion home-grown reform system and adapt, where necessary, some of the practices tested in other economies, which could assist the service grow and deliver quality services."

He urged them to brace up to the realities of the global configuration in order to "facilitate the development and sustenance of our national human resource capabilities so as to effectively match and compete with the prevailing global standards."

Represented by the Head of Service of the Federation, Prof. Oladapo Afolabi, President Jonathan drew the attention of the participants to the African Charter on values and principles of public service and management that was signed during the 17th African Union Summit, which encourages the efforts of member states in modernising administration and strengthening capacity for the improvement of public service.

Jonathan concluded by saying the main challenge will be to ensure that individuals with the right attitudes and capacity to transform the public sectors in Africa are absorbed in public service.

Led by the Chairman, Federal Civil Service Commission of Nigeria, Ambassador Ahmed Al-Gazali, who is also the Vice President of AAPSComs, the participants thanked the president for his support to the commission and commitment towards the enthronement of Performance Contract into the Nigerian Public Service. The theme of the event is "Performance contract as an indispensable tool for achieving excellence in public service in Africa."

In his address to participants, Al-Gazali emphasized the need to adapt tested practices that are based on best management methodology such as performance management, dovetailing into performance contract.

According to the Vice President of West African AAPSComs, Phelela Tengeni, Africans have to proffer solutions to the challenges facing their civil service on their own without borrowing theories from other parts of the world. She then expressed her excitement with the development, with the hope that the aspirations of AAPSComs will be realised.



The Guardian