Sierra Leone’s Chief Minister, Dr. David M. Sengeh, has praised the relentless efforts of the Public Sector Reform Unit, PSRU, in actualizing the dreams of H. E President Dr. Julius Maada Bio, in revamping the Public Service Architecture.
The Mandate of the Public Sector Reform Unit is to provide Leadership, Coordination and Strategic guidance in the design, implementation and monitoring of Public Sector Reform Initiatives.
One of its key activities in achieving its mandate is to undertake Management and Functional Reviews, MFRs, of Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, to align their structures with their mandates.
PSRU has conducted MFRs for several MDAs to ensure that they deliver on their mandates and makes them functional and effective.
One key institution that has benefitted from PSRU’s intervention, is the Office of the Chief Minister.
It was in August of 2023, that the Chief Minister, Dr. David Sengeh, requested the expertise of PSRU, to conduct a Management and Functional Review to put in place systems and processes and organizational structures for its effective functionality.
Exactly one year since the MFR was conducted, the Chief Minister’s Office has been able to implement most of the recommendations in the report to ensure it deliver on its mandate.
“My predecessors developed strategic documents and set up delivery structures. They did great work to build a platform on which I built for delivery. However, to truly understand what had existed, I requested a thorough review to shape my work. Mr Phoray-Musa, the then acting Head was vibrant and thorough, and his team delivered in record time. Since then, they’ve done dozens of reviews of MDAs as part of President Maada Bio’s Big Five Agenda for Public Sector Reform.” He narrated.
During the review process, the Chief Minister explained, there were lots of fears by insiders and outsiders that I’ll change the entire office. I didn’t. In fact, I didn’t fire or change a single person. Instead, I’ve enabled each and every one of them to grow and reach their own professional goals while delivering on the President’s agenda.
According to Dr Sengeh, one of the major recommendations was for better coordination and cooperation between the Chief Minister’s Office and the Office of the President, including the VP’s Office. The now Secretary to the President, then Presidential Adviser on Governance, led my technical team and ensured that this was done.
The Chief Minister assured that his work should only get easier now with his new role. “Today, we have more statutory meetings and follow through by relevant institutions. The President closely monitors and follows on delivery,” he revealed.
The Chief Minister noted that due to the excellent support he received from MDAs, particularly administrative and professional staffs, his Office has been able to accomplish quite outstanding things.
“In spite of the challenges, Cabinet Secretariat has been able to process a GRAND TOTAL of 138 Cabinet Papers, wherein 105 were approved, 14 withdrawn and 19 noted.
“I am sure there’s a lot more that was recommended to be done, but I’ll tell you, we are in the right direction. Absolutely no one knows it all, and until we are ready to self-reflect, get external reviews, and challenge ourselves to do more, we can never grow,” he concluded.
The Director of PSRU, Mr. Sulaiman Phoray-Musa, expressed gratification that the work of the institution is being recognized at the highest level.
The Director extended thanks and appreciation to the Management Team and staff PSRU for a job well done over this past year.
Staff of PSRU also gratified and appreciated the Chief Minister, for the kind sentiments and promised to demonstrate enthusiasm and dedication to ensure that H.E. the President Dr. Julius Maada Bio, achieve his dream to actualize the aspirations of the Big Five Game Changers.
(C) PSRU COMMUNICATION UNIT