Tuesday 11 February 2014

Namibian Prime Minister says civil service is inefficient

Prime Minister Hage Geingob has lashed out at some senior officers in the civil service, including permanent secretaries, accusing them of being too comfortable and urging them to leave if they are tired of serving in government.
The veteran public administrator, who made the remarks at his opening address to staff of his office last week in Windhoek, also spoke about officials who have become “indifferent, uncaring, and outright inefficient”.
He touched on service delivery based on racial ethnic and tribal lines as well. “Serve people with equal treatment. You do not have to like them, their tribe or colour. As we are sitting here, we are here to deliver,” Geingob said.
The Prime Minister aired his disappointment regarding lack of efficiency and bad attitude in the public service and said some permanent secretaries have gotten “too comfortable and have forgotten their purpose”.
This, however, is not the first time that Geingob has criticised the PSes. Last year, the prime minister suggested that their positions be advertised for the public to apply.
The prime minister added  that some have been there for too long, and should leave if they are tired.
“You are a public servant, you are a civil servant. If you are tired, please leave,” Geingob said.
Geingob said that such a situation could only be overcome with renewed commitment, vigour and foresight, adding that he was not judging those who are proud of their roots but indicated that, “the moment they start thinking they can only work with people who come from the same region as them, it becomes a problem.”
“As civil servants, we are expected to maintain and strengthen the public’s trust in government. Unless civil servants change, people will lose trust in them,” he said.
Geingob warned that government will not tolerate ill manners.

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